Wake County chase ends with crash on US 64 near Lizard Lick; driver detained

LIZARD LICK, N.C. (WNCN) — Traffic was backed up on U.S. 64 in eastern Wake County after a law enforcement chase ended in a crash Saturday afternoon.

Read more Bryce Young and Panthers find better footing in victory over Jaguars

The incident ended around 1:25 p.m. near Lizard Lick in the eastbound lanes of U.S. 64 just east of Edgemont Road, according to the Wake County Sheriff’s Office, the North Carolina Department of Transportation data, and images from the scene.

The chase appeared to begin around 1:15 p.m. along N.C. 97 and later crossed over to U.S. 64.

The incident started after a deputy spotted a vehicle “traveling at a high rate of speed” on Riley Hill Road and tried to stop the driver, who refused, a Wake County Sheriff’s Office news release said.

The chase later ended when the driver, a man, crashed and ran from the car on U.S. 64, the release said.

Read more Breanna Stewart urges a safe space as transgender debate sparks rallies at Fever games

The driver was soon found and taken into custody. He was taken to a nearby hospital with minor injuries, the sheriff’s office said.

After the crash, traffic was stopped heading east before the Edgemont Road overpass and was moving very slowly starting westbound at Exit 432, the Lizard Lick Road exit.

Officials with the Wake County Sheriff’s Office did not release the driver’s name, but said charges were pending.

“This is an ongoing investigation, and there is no additional information at this time,” the release said.

Read more ‘Four random men’: Good Samaritans rescue NC crash victim as fire erupts