West Virginia State Police said two convicted felons face charges after a multi-county chase on the Turnpike in which the suspect vehicle struck a cruiser and reached speeds of 120 mph. Andre Lee of Lorain and Tamario Washington were taken into custody after an incident that began about 8:15 a.m. Sunday, according to a criminal complaint filed in Kanawha County Magistrate Court.
State Police said the suspect’s vehicle was going about 88 mph in a construction zone on the Turnpike in Raleigh County at mile marker 41, where the speed limit is 55 mph. The vehicle fled, sometimes reaching speeds of 120 mph, and using both northbound lanes. At mile marker 53, the driver, later identified as Lee, braked, trying to get the trooper’s cruiser to rear end the vehicle. State Police said when the vehicle reached the Pax toll booth in Fayette County, the driver made a U-Turn and began going southbound through the barrier but officers eventually caught up with him using stop sticks. Officers also recovered a pistol wrapped in a shirt that was thrown out the window. The complaint said Lee and Washington are convicted felons and will face several charges. A rear-seat passenger did not have any charges and was released.