BUCKHANNON – A Buckhannon man was arrested Tuesday after he wrecked his car on Mt. Lebanon Road while allegedly fleeing from police at high speed.
Trey Johnson, 24, of Buckhannon was arrested for fleeing with reckless indifference and fleeing while DUI, both felonies.
According to the criminal complaint in the Upshur County Magistrate Clerk’s Office, deputy Cole Bender with the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office saw Johnson driving a red 1996 Ford sedan toward Main Street from the Island Avenue direction at approximately 12:30 a.m. on February 21.
“Knowing Johnson did not have a driver’s license, I turned my patrol vehicle around at Cook’s and followed the car,” Bender wrote in the complaint.
Johnson allegedly drove through the three stop signs along West Main Street and continued at a high rate of speed toward Old Weston Road. Bender initiated his blue lights and sirens and traveled at over 100 MPH while keeping pace with Johnson, the complaint states.
According to the report, Johnson continued out the Old Weston Road and onto Buckhannon Mountain Road until reaching Hackers Creek, where the vehicle turned right, heading east, back toward Route 20. Johnson allegedly stayed in the opposite lane for most of the pursuit on Hackers Creek. He then turned onto Mt. Lebanon Road, where he lost control several times before finally flipping the vehicle.
Bender detained Johnson and his passenger. Johnson also allegedly told the officer there was a needle somewhere in the vehicle and that he had used drugs early that morning. Johnson also consented to a DUI blood draw, which was performed at St Joseph’s Hospital.
Johnson’s license was both revoked due to DUI and suspended due to unpaid citations, the complaint notes.
Bail was set at $25,000 cash only by Upshur County Magistrate Mark Davis.
The potential penalty for fleeing with reckless indifference is confinement in a state correctional facility for not less than one nor more than five years and a fine of not less than $1,000 nor more than $2,000. The potential penalty for fleeing while DUI is confinement in a state correctional facility for not less than three nor more than 10 years.
