Driver arrested, 2 passengers thrown from car after 120 mph chase ends in crash

ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. — A high-speed chase with law enforcement that spanned three counties Thursday night ended in a violent crash that left three people hospitalized, police said.

A sergeant with the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office said he was on Interstate 85 northbound when he was passed by a speeding Honda Civic, which was weaving in and out of traffic.

The sergeant caught up with the Civic and began to initiate a traffic stop. The driver initially slowed down, but then quickly accelerated while still on I-85.

Authorities said the pursuit, which reached speeds of 120 mph, began in Rowan County, continued through Davidson County and finally ended in Randolph County near Hopewell Church Road when the driver wrecked while trying to pass a tractor-trailer.

The Civic ran off the road, hit an embankment and several trees before going airborne and rolling end over end.

Officials said the car rolled and landed upside down, ejecting both passengers.

The driver, Brandon Talbert, of Rockwell, was arrested and taken to the hospital with minor injuries. The front seat passenger, Phillip Ketchie, of Salisbury, was found lying on a hill. He was also taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

The other passenger, Danielle Pendleton, of Kannapolis, was later found 100 feet from the crash, lying in the woods. She was taken tot he hospital in critical condition.

Talbert was charged with DWI, driving 100 mph in a 70 mph zone, careless and reckless driving, driving while license revoked, no insurance, felony fleeing to elude arrest, possession of schedule II controlled substance, possession of schedule III controlled substance, possession of schedule VI controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

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