An Oak Vale man remained behind bars as of deadline, charged with a long list of offenses after he fled a traffic stop north of Columbia early Wednesday.
Marion County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Pete Williams said Jaymes Robert Jeremy Fortenberry, 24, was charged with DUI first offense, felony eluding a law officer – driving recklessly, possession of a controlled substance and tampering with evidence and was booked into the Marion County Jail shortly after the 7 a.m. incident.
“The vehicle was being driven recklessly on Mississippi 35 North so I tried to initiate a traffic stop,” Williams said. “He fled up 35 N in a reckless manner putting everybody on the road in jeopardy.”
The pursuit began in the Williamsburg Road area and continued southbound on Mississippi 35, according to Williams.
“(Fortenberry) attempted to make an abrupt turn on Lingle Road,” he said. “As he tried to make the turn, he struck an embankment, but continued down Lingle Road, a dead end. While he was trying to turn around, we were able to get the vehicle stopped and apprehend him.”
Fortenberry had two other occupants in the vehicle, a man and a woman, according to Williams.
“They were coming from one of their residences in the Goss community,” he said. “His front seat passenger, the female, hit her head in the collision. We had to call AAA Ambulance Service for her for a head injury. She was transported to Marion General Hospital.”
Tri-Community Volunteer Fire Department first responders and Columbia Police Department officers assisted deputies at the scene. Neither of the occupants was charged.
“(Fortenberry) threw some drugs out of the window during the pursuit,” Williams said. “There were more found in the vehicle when we searched it.”
As of deadline Thursday, no bond had been set for Fortenberry in Marion County Justice Court.
