HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) — Virginia State Police and Augusta County deputies arrested a Harrisonburg man after a high-speed chase involving a stolen van on Sunday.
At approximately 4:47 p.m., authorities were alerted to a stolen van traveling north on Route 11 in Verona. When a state trooper attempted a stop near Route 612, the suspect refused to pull over, prompting a pursuit.
The driver, identified as 37-year-old Jamie C. Whitesel, continued onto I-81 southbound. Deputies with the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office deployed spike strips at mile marker 225, deflating the van’s rear tire.
Despite the damage, Whitesel kept driving and crossed the median at mile marker 223, nearly colliding with one tractor-trailer and crashing into another. The second impact flattened another tire, forcing him to flee on foot before being apprehended.
Whitesel now faces multiple charges in Augusta General District Court, including:
Felony eluding
Felony assault on a law enforcement officer
Driving under the influence (DUI)
Reckless driving
Driving while suspended and revoked
Illegal use of a crossover
Unsafe lane change
He is being held at Middle River Regional Jail. Court records show additional pending charges in Harrisonburg and Rockingham courts, with a hearing scheduled for July 10.
