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Driver flees police; smashes car into a house

Posted at 8:01 AM, Apr 14, 2013
and last updated 2013-04-14 17:46:04-04

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WTVR) -- Richmond police said the driver of a Ford Mustang involved in a police pursuit early Sunday morning destroyed the sunroom of a house in Henrico County.

It happened at the corner of Basie and Bethlehem Roads in Henrico County.

Richmond police said an officer pulled over the driver on West Broad Street after he spotted the vehicle driving recklessly.  The car apparently sped off when the officer approached the vehicle.

However, the officer said the pursuit ended when the vehicle entered Henrico County at the intersections of Bethlehem Road and Dickens Road, according to police.

Investigators believe the driver then slammed his car into the sunroom of a house that sits at Bethlehem Road and Basie Road, approximately one and half miles from the intersection of Bethlehem and Dickens.

The driver ran from the scene on foot and neither Henrico or Richmond police were able to take the suspect into custody.

Bethlehem Road comes to a "T" when it reaches Basie Road, and the house that was hit is about 30 yards off the road just to the left of the "T."  A line of shrubs next to the home now has long skid marks through them leading up to the sunroom, where half of the room is smashed.

"It had to be an incredible rate of speed because obviously he hit [in the ditch] and then went airborn," said Kevin Glenn, who's cousin lives at the house.

Glen said his cousin, who owns the home, was reading a book in the kitchen when he heard the window shatter right next to him.

"He thought somebody had thrown a rock through [the window]," said Glenn.

Glenn's cousin came outside to find a blue Ford Mustang sitting in his backyard and the side of his sunroom destroyed.  The resident, who did not want to speak on camera about the incident, was not injured.

The sunroom has been condemned and the owner does have insurance to help offset repair costs.  Glenn is now playing out all of the what-ifs that could have happened.

"I think that automobiles are very dangerous in the hands of irresponsible people," Glen said.

Richmond police said they have identified the suspected driver of the vehicle, but have not located him. Additionally, investigators have not yet release the driver's identity.

However, warrants have been filed for the driver's arrest on charges, which include hit-and-run, eluding police and reckless driving.

Check back with WTVR.com and watch CBS 6 News for updates on this story.