GATHERING INFORMATION: GSP troopers speak with GBI officers about the crash scene, while collecting photographs and evidence.

THOMASVILLE- A heated drug pursuit by the Thomas County Narcotics Unit led to a serious crash at the intersection of S. Stevens St. and Wright St. on Monday morning.

According to Georgia State Patrol SFC Post Commander John Vanlandingham, Thomas County drug agents identified the driver of a black Toyota Corolla as having multiple felony warrants and attempted to stop the vehicle. However, the vehicle fled from agents, before losing control and striking another vehicle, who was stopped at the stop sign on the intersection of S. Stevens St. and Wright St.

Due to the high rate of speed and impact, the other vehicle was flipped upside down. The wanted individual attempted to get out of their vehicle and flee the scene of the accident, but deputies made contact with the subject. While no injuries were sustained in the accident from the suspect, injuries did result from the altercation with officers.

The struck vehicle’s driver was taken to the hospital.

Vanlandingham said at this time no fatalities have been reported, and he hopes and prays it does not get to that point.

GSP has enlisted the help of SCRT (Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team) to conduct a full investigation of the accident.

“They’ll do a detailed investigation with lasers and plot out every point,” Vanlandingham explained. “They’ll get a search warrant on the vehicle and get vehicle speeds in order to conduct a full investigation.”

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) was also on the scene at the request of the Thomas County Sheriff’s Office to review the use of force portion of the incident.

At the time of this report, Vanlandingham had not conducted an interview with the narcotics agent but believed the accident was a direct result of the high rate of speed the suspect was driving. Narcotics agents did not use a PIT maneuver or any other tactic to force the suspect’s vehicle off the road.