PATRICK COUNTY, Va. – UPDATE
Virginia State Police provided more details on the multi-county pursuit that ended in a deadly crash Friday afternoon.
The situation began when a woman was found by park rangers inside an unoccupied and unrented cabin in Staunton River State Park.
Police said the woman fled the cabin, got into her vehicle and sped away from the scene, starting a pursuit with park rangers.
As the woman left the state park, the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office pursued the vehicle and tried to contain the vehicle; however, the woman “forcefully exited the vehicle containment,” and hit a deputy’s vehicle, according to state police.
At about 12:52 p.m., the woman’s vehicle was spotted driving through Martinsville, leading the Martinsville Police Department to try and stop the vehicle. However, the woman, again, kept driving without stopping.
The chase continued through Henry County as well as Patrick County.
At about 1:18 p.m., the 2010 Toyota Corolla that the woman was driving crossed a median into the Route 58 eastbound lanes where it crashed head-on into a 2005 Toyota Corolla.
The suspect, who was driving the 2010 Corolla, was identified by state police as 41-year-old Christine Barnette, of Cary, North Carolina. As we previously reported, Barnette sustained serious injuries in the crash and was flown to Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
The victim, who was driving the 2005 Corrolla, was identified as 81-year-old Bobby Wayne Gammons, of Mount Airy, North Carolina. Gammons died at the scene.
Barnette has been charged with:
- Breaking and entering
- Reckless driving
- Defrauding an innkeeper
- Felony eluding police
- Trespassing
- Vehicular homicide
The crash remains under investigation.
ORIGINAL STORY
Virginia State Police is investigating a high-speed chase that killed one person Friday afternoon.
Authorities said a woman led several agencies on a pursuit that started in Halifax County and went through Pittsylvania County, Danville, Martinsville and Henry County before ending in Patrick County.
The chase ended around 1:18 p.m. when the woman driving the vehicle crashed into another car by the Walmart near U.S. Route 58 in Patrick County.
We’re told one “innocent person” died in the crash; however, it is currently unclear who that person is at the moment in relation to the incident.
Officers are working to notify the family members of the victim.
The woman who led the high-speed chase sustained serious injuries in the crash and is being flown to Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
State police said their troopers joined the pursuit before it ended in Patrick County.