The Charleston County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a driver involved in a high-speed pursuit that resulted in a sergeant crashing their vehicle on Sunday. The incident occurred after the sergeant attempted to stop a speeding BMW sedan on Interstate 526.
The Pursuit
According to an incident report, the sergeant first noticed the BMW speeding on I-526 westbound near Virginia Avenue, with speeds estimated at over 110 mph. When the sergeant tried to initiate a traffic stop, the driver of the BMW fled the scene, continuing the chase as they exited onto North Rhett Avenue, crossing into the City of Hanahan.
The pursuit escalated as the driver continued at speeds over 100 mph, entering the City of Goose Creek, before re-entering Charleston County on I-526 westbound. The driver then made a right turn onto Rivers Avenue.
The Crash
As the sergeant attempted to slow down to follow the driver onto Rivers Avenue, the prolonged high-speed chase caused issues with the brakes of the sergeant’s vehicle. This led to the right tire hitting a raised curb, causing the vehicle to exit the roadway and drive down a grassy slope. The sergeant’s vehicle came to a stop, suffering minor damage to the wheel and tire, but fortunately, the sergeant was not injured.
Ongoing Search
A deputy later located the fleeing BMW on Rivers Avenue and attempted to continue the pursuit, but the driver’s high speeds forced the deputy to stop the chase for safety reasons. The Charleston County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Unit, along with the South Carolina Highway Patrol, responded to the scene to investigate the incident.
The investigation to identify the driver and the BMW is still ongoing, with authorities continuing their search for the suspect.
