ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, August 17, 1996 TAG: 9608190067
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: ABINGDON
SOURCE: ROBERT FREIS STAFF WRITER
A Floyd County man was arraigned Friday on a series of charges - including attempted capital murder of a police officer - resulting from two chases through several Southwest Virginia counties.
David E. Lucas is being held at the Washington County Jail under $200,000 bond. His alleged accomplice, Tammy Lilly, is listed in stable condition at Smyth County Hospital in Marion, after suffering burns in the collision that concluded Thursday's pursuit on Interstate 81.
Lucas, 20, and Lilly, 19, were driver and passenger in a car that reached 90 to 120 mph during attempts to outrun police in two separate incidents, police said.
The first incident occurred early Thursday afternoon, when a Floyd County deputy attempted to stop the car driven by Lucas on U.S. 221 north of Floyd.
The officers recognized Lucas and knew he was driving on a suspended license, said Gino Williams, Floyd County's commonwealth's attorney. Lucas and Lilly were on bond awaiting trial on several felony charges, including the theft of a handgun and ammunition, Williams said.
Lucas refused to stop, leading the deputy on a 90 mph chase and ramming the police cruiser at one point, Williams said.
The officers broke off their pursuit when they became concerned about the safety of other drivers on two-lane U.S. 221, Williams said.
Authorities got a tip that the pair had gone to Roanoke and then planned to drop off Lilly's 8-month-old child with a family member at Virginia 100 and I-81 in Pulaski County.
Williams said Lucas and Lilly then apparently planned to flee the state. However, state police intercepted them after they left the child and drove south on I-81.
A 53-mile, four-county chase ensued that reached 120 mph. Lucas passed other drivers on the shoulder and in the median, and Lilly tossed items such as a clock radio and a child safety seat out the passenger window during the pursuit, police said.
The pursuit ended after Lucas rammed a state police officer's car and lost control of his own vehicle. Lucas' car spun across the median, struck a northbound tractor-trailer, and burst into flames.
Lucas was not injured. Lilly's clothes caught fire and were quickly extinguished by several police officers. She was airlifted to Smyth County Hospital, where police said she is being treated for first-and second-degree burns.
Lucas has been charged with attempting to kill the police officer he rammed on I-81 and attempted malicious wounding of the Floyd County deputies he rammed on U.S. 221. Charges against Lilly are pending, state police said.
Additionally, Williams said both will be charged with felonious child abuse and neglect because Lilly's child was in the car during the Floyd County chase. Her husband, Elby Lilly, is being sought on charges unrelated to Thursday's chases, Williams said.
A preliminary hearing has been set for Sept. 11 in Washington County General District Court for Lucas.
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