Police chase ends in Petersburg w/ crash & slew of charges

What started as a routine traffic stop on Route 460 turned into a high-octane pursuit through Sussex County and into Petersburg, ending with a major crash and multiple arrests.

Early Wednesday, June 18, a Virginia State Police trooper tried to pull over a 2006 Honda Element for speeding—clocked at 78 mph in a 55 zone. But instead of stopping, the driver hit the gas.

The chase that followed pushed speeds past 100 mph before it came to a chaotic end at Winfield Road and South Crater Road in Petersburg.

The Honda struck a road sign and slammed into a Pepsi truck. The force of the crash was so intense that flying debris damaged the pursuing trooper’s vehicle. That didn’t stop the pursuit.

The driver—later identified as 36-year-old Andre Demon Wilkins of Petersburg—jumped out and made a run for it. His getaway was reportedly a micro-dream.

According to VSP, officers quickly caught him and also got one of two female passengers who tried to flee.

The second woman, who was riding in the front seat, sustained serious injuries and was rushed to Southside Regional Medical Center.

The Honda Element had been reported stolen out of Virginia Beach just hours earlier. Wilkins now faces a mountain of charges, including:

Felony eluding
Driving under the influence
Possession of controlled substances (Schedule I/II)
Reckless driving
Obstruction of justice
Possession of stolen property
…and many more, from lack of insurance to driving with a revoked license.

He’s also wanted on several outstanding warrants involving probation violations, grand larceny, and failure to appear in court.

As for the passengers, Iaisha Marie Carrington, from Henrico, was taken into custody on a warrant tied to a conspiracy to commit robbery case.

Kala Nicole Lavender, of Wakefield, has a pending misdemeanor contempt warrant for skipping court on a felony identity theft charge. That matter will be addressed after she’s released from the hospital.