PRINCETON, W.Va. — A Princeton police officer involved in a high-speed chase early Tuesday morning was flown by helicopter to Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
A Princeton officer tried to pull over a speeding car. However, the driver, Jerry Martin, Jr., 31, of Virginia, just kept going. Other Princeton officers as well as Mercer County deputies joined the pursuit. Martin struck two city cruisers and continue on.
Officer E.D. Leftwich was waiting in his cruiser along Old Bluefield-Princeton Road for Martin to pass by. The suspect lost control of his vehicle and slammed into Leftwich’s cruiser which crashed into a utility pole. EMS had to cut Leftwich out of the car. Martin was also injured.
The officer was checked out at Roanoke Memorial, treated for some cuts and bruises and then released. Martin is facing multiple charges including two counts of attempted murder, fleeing, reckless indifference and speeding.
Martin was wanted in Charlottesville, VA on a probation violation for grand larceny and in Waynesboro, VA on failure to appear.