DATE: Friday, October 10, 1997              TAG: 9710100662

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B7   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY LARRY W. BROWN, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   41 lines

CRASH DURING POLICE PURSUIT SENDS 6 PEOPLE TO HOSPITAL

A five-vehicle crash that occurred after a man led Norfolk police on a chase into Virginia Beach sent six people to local hospitals with minor injuries.

Norfolk police spokesman Larry Hill said the crash occurred early Thursday afternoon near the intersection of Baker Road and Northampton Boulevard in Virginia Beach.

Police officers were seeking Bernell Allen Speller, who was sought for probation violation on a malicious wounding charge and failure to appear in court.

Police spokesman Larry Hill gave this account:

About 12:30 p.m. police officers were called to a repair shop on Azalea Garden Road near Military Highway to apprehend Speller. When they arrived, he had driven away.

A police officer spotted Speller driving on Azalea Garden Road. As Speller turned onto Miller Store Road, the officer turned on his lights and siren. Speller sped away, traveling onto Burton Station Road through Norfolk and into Virginia Beach.

When the cars reached Northampton Boulevard, the police cruiser was caught in traffic and the officer lost sight of the suspect. Minutes later, however, the officer found Speller's vehicle - after it had crashed near Northampton Boulevard and Baker Road.

Five vehicles were involved in the crash. Hill said the exact chain of events in the collision is under investigation.

One person was taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, three were taken to Virginia Beach General Hospital, and two went to Sentara Bayside Hospital. None of their injuries appeared to be life-threatening, Hill said.

Speller, whose last known address was in the 600 block of W. 29th St., was one of those taken to a hospital. Additional charges against him are pending, Hill said.

Speeds during the pursuit did not exceed 60 mph, Hill said. The accident was also being investigated by Virginia Beach police. KEYWORDS: ACCIDENT TRAFFIC POLICE CHASE INJURIES

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