A driver faces multiple felony charges after leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase in Clark County and parts of Champaign County.
Blake Hairston, 18, of 687 Wilton Drive, Columbus, was charged with two counts of receiving stolen property along with charges of obstruction of justice, possession of cocaine, improper transport of a firearm and fleeing and eluding, stemming from Wednesday night’s chase.
According to an Ohio State Highway Patrol report filed in the Clark County Municipal Court, troopers were working at mile post 66 on Interstate 70 when they were advised of a white vehicle heading westbound at 92 miles per hour at 6:55 p.m.
Lt. Brian Aller of the Ohio State Highway Patrol said troopers were performing an air speed zone check when the call came in.
After troopers activated their overhead lights, the suspect vehicle continued westbound at speeds ranging from 80 to 140 miles per hour.
The chase continued northbound into Champaign County on U.S. Route 68 before the vehicle made a U-turn near the intersection of Lewis Moore Drive and U.S. Route 68, striking a sign on the side of the road.
The vehicle exited Route 68 twice at state Routes 41 and 40 before heading back onto Interstate 70 heading westbound.
After troopers terminated the chase near mile post 46, Aller said, a plane continued to follow the vehicle, which exited the highway at state Route 235 and stopped at a gas station. Hairston, the driver of the vehicle, and the vehicle’s passenger were standing on the north side of the station when they took off on foot when troopers arrived.
The suspects were then taken into custody after an on foot chase.
Upon searching the vehicle, a stolen firearm was found in addition to finding a gram of crack cocaine on the ground near the vehicle. The vehicle was reported stolen.
Hairston was booked into the Clark County Jail while the juvenile passenger was booked into the Clark County Juvenile Detention Center.