BELLVILLE – A Tennessee man was arrested and faces three felony charges and a 17-year-old girl is in the process of being returned home after a high-speed chase that reached 95 miles per hour on I-71 in Richland County on Tuesday.
Adam D. Blair, 27, of Rocky Top, Tennessee, was taken to the Richland County Jail on charges of fleeing and eluding, receiving stolen property and interference with custody. All of the charges are felonies. The female passenger in the vehicle was identified as a 17-year-old runway from Lake City, Tennessee.
Troopers with the Ohio State Highway Patrol Criminal Patrol section were involved the pursuit on I-71 in Richland County. The incident began Tuesday when troopers conducted a routine registration check of a 2001 Pontiac Sunfire bearing Tennessee registration.
“The registration check revealed the vehicle was entered stolen out of Rocky Top, Tennessee,” reads a statement from Lt. Lawrence Firmi of the Post. “Before back-up officers arrived, the driver of the stolen vehicle exited I-71 at Ohio 97 and pulled into the Speedway gas station at 838 Ohio 97 in Bellville. At that time the troopers attempted to take the driver into custody when he fled in the vehicle.
“As the driver fled from the Speedway parking lot, he struck one vehicle and continued north onto I-71. The ensuing pursuit lasted approximately five miles and reached speeds of 95 MPH. The pursuit came to an end when the suspect’s vehicle became disabled from damage caused by the prior crash.”
Blair was taken into custody without further incident.
The highway patrol is working with the Ohio Interstate Commission for Juveniles to have the female returned to Tennessee. The incident remains under investigation.
The highway patrol was assisted at the scene by the Bellville Police Department.
