Marine Police to charge driver in crash

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - Virginia Marine Police are charging a driver who officers say was speeding before hitting a power poll in Virginia Beach Monday night.

Grazia Moyers with the Virginia Beach Police Department said the Virginia Marine Police saw the vehicle speeding westbound on Interstate 264 around 9:30 p.m. Officers followed the suspect and contacted their dispatchers.

Officers followed the vehicle to Rosemont Road and then to Bonney Road. According to John Bull with Virginia Marine Resources Commission, officers pulled up behind the vehicle and activated their lights and the vehicle took off.

Bull said the driver continued and ran a red light. Officers did not pursue him.

As officers continued down Bonney Road, they saw a blown transformer and came upon the vehicle, which had crashed into a Dominion Virginia Power pole and rolled several times.

The driver was fully ejected from the vehicle and was found lying next to it. According to Moyers, live power lines came down on several vehicles in the Car Max parking lot, causing damage.

Virginia Beach dispatchers were alerted of the crash and officers from the Virginia Beach Police Department arrived on scene.

The driver was transported to a local hospital with severe injuries. Their condition is unknown at this time.

Virginia Marine Police will charge the suspect with reckless driving, running a red light and attempting to elude police. They are empowered to enforce laws by both land and sea in Virginia, Bull said.

Bull said Virginia Beach Police are investigating the crash itself while Virginia Marine Police are investigating the events leading up to the crash.

Stay with WAVY.com for more on this developing story.