17-year-old ‘committed to the speed’ passes cop car at 94 mph, Virginia sheriff says

A 17-year-old driver “blew past” an idling squad car at 94 mph, saying it was a matter of being “committed to the speed,” according to investigators in Northern Virginia.

It happened around 8:15 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 2, north of Stafford, and the resulting chase played out in residential neighborhoods, the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office said in a Sept. 4 news release.

Deputy K.W. Suter says he was “finishing up a traffic stop” when the driver first appeared on four-lane Richmond Highway.

“Despite (Suter’s) emergency equipment still active, a Kia blew past him traveling 94 mph in a 45 mph zone. Deputy Suter gave chase as the Kia took an abrupt turn,” the sheriff’s office says.

“Suter lost sight of the vehicle, but only for a moment. He located the Kia ... crashed into an unattended vehicle. The driver had fled on foot.”

Deputies used the vehicle’s license plate to identify a suspect, resulting in a deputy finding the driver “strutting along” in an apartment community. He surrendered “without incident,” officials said.

“When asked why he ran, the driver advised he was ‘already committed to the speed’ and thought his chances were better if he fled,” the sheriff’s office reported.

The suspect was charged with felony eluding, hit and run and reckless driving, officials said.

Stafford County is about a 45-mile drive southwest from Washington, D.C.

This story was originally published September 5, 2024 at 7:20 AM with the headline "17-year-old ‘committed to the speed’ passes cop car at 94 mph, Virginia sheriff says."