WINNSBORO – A high-speed chase that started in Fairfield County ended in Blythewood where the driver was eventually arrested.
While conducting routine patrol in Fairfield County, a Fairfield County Sheriff’s deputy reported observing a silver Honda Civic that matched the description of a silver Honda Civic that had been reported as stolen.
As the deputy followed the Honda, driving onto I-77 south at the 34-mile marker, it began making multiple lane changes and driving on the right shoulder as it overtook multiple vehicles, according to the incident report. The deputy activated his blue lights and pursued the Honda south on I-77 towards Blythewood.
The deputy reported the Honda was speeding in excess of 90 miles per hour as it entered Blythewood in Richland County.
The Honda was then reported to stop on the shoulder of I-77 south at mile marker 27, in the vicinity of Exit 77.
A black male was reported to exit the driver’s side of the vehicle and flee on foot into the wood line.
A female was sitting in the vehicle, so the deputy remained there until an officer arrived and asked the female to exit and step to the rear of the vehicle, where she was handcuffed and placed in a patrol car.
The report said that, at this point, the female gave false information about the driver of the Honda, who, deputies learned was the father of the female passenger’s children.
With both Richland County and Fairfield County K-9 tracker dogs on the ground, the driver of the silver Honda Civic, identified as Christopher Vernard Martin, was found walking along I-77 a couple of miles from where he left the Honda.
Martin was arrested on charges of Failure to Stop for Blue Lights, 2nd Offense; Possession of a Stolen south Carolina license plate: and Reckless Driving.
