CAROLINE COUNTY, Va. -- State police said three Florida men face numerous charges after leading police on an eight-mile chase that started on I-95 in Spotsylvania County and ended when their Mercedes flipped and landed in a home's front yard on Route 1 in Caroline County.
Fleurisson Lebrun
Virginia State Police spokesperson Corinne N. Geller said a trooper was monitoring traffic along the interstate in Spotsylvania County at 4:50 p.m. Thursday when a Mercedes traveling northbound clocked the trooper’s radar at 85 mph.
"The trooper pulled onto the Interstate and activated his lights and sirens to initiate a traffic stop on the Mercedes," Geller said. "The driver of the Mercedes refused to stop and sped away at a high rate of the speed. The Mercedes got off of I-95 at Exit 118, continued to US Route 1 and headed south in excess of 100 mph."
WTVR CBS 6 reporter Jon Burkett was headed to cover another story in Spotsylvania County when he spotted the chase before the suspects turned onto Route 1 in Thornburg.
“I can tell you firsthand this Mercedes passed me on the other side of a double yellow line… The Mercedes passed me going the wrong way down the street, across the double line, took a left on Route 1 South. Ten seconds later a trooper came by. He followed and gave pursuit.”
Neighbors and witnesses said the car hit a ditch before it flipped three to four times, skid on its roof and then flipped again before coming to rest in the yard of a home.
"I was sitting on my porch trying to get fresh air, and all I heard was some screeching tires and it sounded like something was hit and it skid," said Rainia McWhirter. "They had to land Medivac."
Witnesses said troopers were all around the Mercedes when it came to a stop. Fifty yards away was clear evidence where the car had hit an embankment. Witnesses said it flipped at least three times and skidded on the grass before it flipped back upright.
Crash Scene
[BONUS: Watch reporter Jon Burkett's LIVE Facebook report from the crash scene]
"They were sprinting from the car," said Michael Perry, who lives near the Caroline crash site, about the occupants of the vehicle.
Law enforcement said the two men inside the car tried to make a run for it, but Caroline deputies and state troopers caught them.
The male driver, 22-year-old Jesus J. Isaguirre of Green Acres, Fla., and two male passengers, 23-year-old Fleurisson Lebrun of West Palm, Fla., and 21-year-old Noel Mendoza, of Green Acres, Fla., were transported to Mary Washington Hospital with serious injuries.
Drugs seized from high-speed chase (SOURCE: Virginia State Police)
Gellar said troopers seized heroin, cocaine, marijuana, LSD and prescription drugs with a total approximate street value of $80,000 from the car. Two handguns were also recovered from the sedan.
Officials said Isaguirre was arrested 11 charges, including illegal possession of cocaine, marijuana and prescription drugs; transporting narcotics with the intent to distribute; eluding police; speeding; possession of a firearm while in possession of illegal drugs; and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Lebrun and Mendoza each face 8 charges, including illegal possession of cocaine, marijuana and prescription drugs; transporting narcotics with the intent to distribute; and possession of a firearm while in possession of illegal drugs.
Gellar said the incident remains under investigation.
