North Carolina’s Davis County.State Trooper H.T. Holcomb was injured Friday night after a high-speed pursuit in North Carolina ended in a dramatic crash when a fugitive suspect struck and overturned his cruiser several times.
Chase Exceeded 100 MPH Before Crash
The pursuit reportedly started after suspect Luis Almanzare refused to stop during a traffic encounter, according to North Carolina State Highway Patrol officials. According to investigators, Almanza hit over 100 mph before swerving off the roadway and colliding with Trooper Holcomb’s cruiser.
Holcomb was standing along the roadway after being asked to help with the pursuit when he was hit by Almanza’s car. Law officers and firefighters responded to the scene as the cruiser rolled multiple times due to the severity of the impact.
Dispatch Captures Urgency of Scene
He just hit 745, roll over, roll over, says a single person on the audio taken from dispatch communications. Call fire and EMS. 10-18, 10-18.
The severity of the collision is highlighted by the code 10-18, which indicates that cops must respond immediately.
Witness Describes Aftermath as Devastating
Joshua Wood, a bystander trapped in gridlock outside of Montgomery around Exit 170, told reporters he was in a state of shock.
We observed the aftermath of it as we arrived at exit 170 close to Mocksville. He described it as simply devastating.As I was sitting there, I decided to begin praying for this man.
Wood said he had never seen such a massive response and that he was encircled by bright lights and police activity.
Both Suspect and Trooper Hospitalized
Both suspect Luis Almanza and Trooper Holcomb are still undergoing treatment for injuries they received in the collision. Public information regarding their conditions has not yet been released.
Almanza is the subject of eight charges for which a warrant has been issued. While the investigation is ongoing, officials have not yet revealed whether more charges might be brought.
For more information on this case and other law enforcement stories in North Carolina and the Southeast, visit SaltudaStandard-Sentinel.com.
