A Gate City man was taken into custody on Tuesday evening following a high-speed pursuit that spanned Weber City and Kingsport, culminating in a crash that disabled a police cruiser.
The incident began when a Weber City Police Department officer clocked a red Ford Mustang traveling at 68 mph in a 40 mph zone on US 23 South. When the officer attempted to initiate a traffic stop, the driver accelerated, reaching speeds exceeding 100 mph.
According to the police department’s news release, the chase continued until the Mustang exited at Exit 3. The driver lost control while turning right at an intersection, crashing into Officer Vermillion’s cruiser in the process. Despite the collision, the suspect continued to flee, leaving the police vehicle disabled.
The suspect, later identified as Christopher Quillen, crashed his vehicle shortly after and was apprehended by the authorities. Charges against Quillen have been issued in both Virginia and Tennessee, pending the investigation's outcome. Fortunately, no serious injuries were reported from the crash.