A tractor-trailer led police on a high speed chase through Maryland and Virginia before it eventually crashed.
The semi-truck crashed near Tysons Corner Center the afternoon of Tuesday, December 9, 2008, which ended a high speed police pursuit that started on Interstate 270 in Montgomery County, Maryland.
The driver of the semi was Vernon Edward Jones, a Baltimore assault and attempted murder suspect. He was removed from the cab of the truck and taken into custody by Virginia State Police, according to a report from Maryland State Police.
Police began to pursue the suspect at a scale house in Hyattstown where the semi was going through a commercial vehicle inspection with a Maryland State Police cadet, said spokeswoman Elena Russo.
“When they were trying to run his information, he apparently gave a false Social Security number and one of the troopers figured out he was giving this false information and was able to figure out that he was wanted,” said Russo.
Jones, who was wanted on a 15-year-old warrant for an assault with intent to murder charge, got back into his semi truck and tried to flee from the officers, police said.
Maryland State Police called for assistance from the Montgomery County police department while the truck drove through the county. Jones, 36, would not stop for police and continued driving after police used stop sticks, which deflated his tires. Virginia State Police joined the high speed pursuit when Jones’ truck entered Virginia.
Jones drove the truck off the highway near Tysons Corner and smashed into a row of trees next to the road, near a Harris Teeter. He gave up following the crash, but would not get out of the truck’s cab. Police had to use a stun gun on Jones and were able to take him into custody.
Jones was evaluated by medical personnel at the crash scene, but it was determined that he was not injured.
According to police, Jones lives in Randallstown, Maryland and is a driver for a South Carolina trucking company.