Dooly deputies engage in high-speed chase on Sunday

Published 3:32 pm Monday, January 21, 2019

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Deputies with the Dooly County Sheriff’s Office engaged in a high-speed chase on I-75 on Sunday that ended with the driver, a 19-year-old from Birmingham, Ala. named Harvey Earl James, III, running into two cars and wrecking at the top of the Exit 146 northbound off ramp.

No one suffered significant injury.

According to the Dooly County Sheriff’s Office, at approximately 5:04 p.m. on Sunday, a deputy with the Dooly County Sheriff’s Office was monitoring traffic at the 116 Mile Post on I75 when he observed a red Kia at a very high rate of speed. This vehicle was checked at 110 miles-per-hour in a 70 miles-per-hour zone. The deputy pulled out and pursued the vehicle. The vehicle slowed down but then accelerated again, reaching speeds of 120 miles per hour.

Other deputies joined the pursuit at this point. The lead deputy was able to get in front of the Kia in an effort to box it in and force it stop. The Kia’s driver was able to get back in front due to other traffic, according to reports

The pursuit continued northbound and the Georgia State Patrol was standing by at the 144 mile post. At the 142 mile post a GSP trooper took lead of the pursuit and a second trooper joined in at the 144 mile post. The vehicle tried to exit at the 146 Exit and in doing attempted to pass between two vehicles and clipped one of them. The pursued vehicle continued through the red light and was struck by another vehicle that was unable to avoid the Kia. The Kia then spun out, at which point the driver got out and surrendered.

The EMS was contacted and responded to check out the occupants of the vehicles that were struck. No serious injuries were received.

James was transported to the Peach County Jail, where he will be charged in relation to the pursuit and the accidents. GSP worked the accidents at Exit 146.