
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, July 25, 1993                   TAG: 9307250168
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: PETER MATHEWS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

RADFORD MAN JAILED AFTER 2-STATE CHASE

A 19-year-old Radford man was in the Franklin County Jail Saturday night after a chase that involved speeds of more than 100 mph, authorities said. Two police officers were injured.

Franklin County sheriff's Capt. W.Q. "Billy" Overton said the chase began about 7:25 p.m. Saturday at North Carolina 68 and U.S. 220 in Madison, N.C., when a state trooper clocked a car traveling 88 mph. The car had been reported stolen in Pulaski.

Trooper R.D. Smith pursued the car north on 220 into Henry County, where Virginia State Police and Henry County sheriff's deputies joined the chase.

In Martinsville, a car driven by Virginia Trooper M.D. DeHart collided with another car not involved in the chase. DeHart's vehicle went airborne, and both cars were totaled.

The suspect ran numerous vehicles off the road during the chase, Overton said.

The chase ended about 8:30 p.m. about five miles south of Rocky Mount, near the Franklin County landfill. The suspect's car collided with one driven by Rick Anderson, a Martinsville police officer. The suspect ran into some woods and was caught by Franklin and Henry County sheriff's deputies.

Charges against Robert L. Ayers included malicious wounding, attempted malicious wounding, injuring people during a police pursuit, possessing a stolen vehicle and stolen tags, and driving with a suspended license. He was being held in the Franklin County Jail.

DeHart was treated at the Memorial Hospital of Martinsville and Henry County and released. The name and condition of the other driver were not available.

Anderson was treated at Franklin Memorial Hospital. His condition was not known.

by CNB