PENNSYLVANIA — A Pittsburgh man was arrested early Sunday morning following a dangerous high-speed chase through Lewis County, West Virginia.
Authorities said 29-year-old Francisco Sanchez, of 2403 Perrysville Avenue in Pittsburgh, fled from a Lewis County deputy around 1:54 a.m. after his vehicle, a Black Kia Forte, was spotted driving erratically in Weston.
Sanchez drove the wrong way on local streets before merging onto U.S. Route 33 and Interstate 79, reaching speeds of over 105 mph.
Law enforcement from multiple agencies, including the West Virginia State Police, Harrison County Sheriff’s Office, Clarksburg Police Department, and Weston Police Department, pursued Sanchez.
Spike strips deployed by Harrison County deputies caused him to swerve dangerously, but he continued at speeds exceeding 115 mph.
The chase ended when Sanchez lost control near Meadowbrook landfill and crashed into a grounded power box on Dunnam Lane. He was taken into custody and transported to the North Central Regional Jail. Lewis County authorities said additional charges are pending.
Sanchez’s Pennsylvania residency highlights the cross-state nature of the incident, emphasizing the dangers of high-speed pursuits involving out-of-state drivers.
