Police: Alcohol possible factor in wild Statesville chase

STATESVILLE — Two men are in the hospital tonight after they led police on a wild chase.

Statesville police say the two men and possibly a woman stole a car from the lot of DriveRight Auto Sales, just north of Statesville.

"I run through this door and tried to stop the people on this side by opening the driver's door but they kept going," said sales manager Oscar Gutierrez.

Police believe Cassie Webster was involved in the theft, along with Carlie Davis and Christopher Jack. Investigators say the trio drove to Statesville in a truck reported stolen out of Asheboro.

Webster was charged with larceny on a motor vehicle and felony possession of stolen property. The chase started after dealership employees alerted police, and then spotted the stolen Lincoln heading toward Interstate 40.

Lee Nelson witnessed the end of the pursuit when police say Davis drove down a dead end road. He spun around and accelerated toward the officer after side-swiping a deputy and hitting an innocent driver.

"The Lincoln realized it was going toward a dead end and tried to turn around and the Statesville police car hit it dead on," Nelson said.

Police believe alcohol may have played a role in the pursuit; they found beer cans inside of the stolen Lincoln. Investigators say the driver and passenger were not wearing seat belts when the chase ended.

The police chief says Statesville does have a pursuit policy and he believes it was followed in this case.

WSOC