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

DATE: FRIDAY, May 13, 1994                   TAG: 9405130126
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Diane Struzzi
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

DRIVER IN CRITICAL CONDITION AFTER POLICE CHASE

An 18-year-old Roanoke man remained in critical condition Thursday from injuries he suffered in a single-car accident that occurred as police pursued him Wednesday night.

Jason Allen Bates of the 1300 block of Second Street Southwest was in the neurotrama intensive care unit of Roanoke Memorial Hospital, a nursing supervisor said.

Roanoke County police spotted a car speeding at Ogden and Electric roads at about 9:25p.m. The car also was weaving through traffic with its headlights off.

Police attempted to stop the vehicle, which sped away northbound on U.S.220 toward Roanoke. Police pursued, and the chase reached speeds up to 85mph.

At the Franklin Road exit, the car hit the guardrail several times, and the driver was thrown through the passenger window. The car continued to travel about 300 feet before it crashed.

Roanoke County Police Lt. G.W. Roche said an internal review of the chase found no violations of the department's policy. The pursuit lasted only one to two minutes, he said.

by CNB