The Martinsville/Henry County Communication Center received a call on August 21, around 12:48 a.m., to report a reckless driver in the area of the 15000 block of A.L. Philpott Hwy.
According to the caller, the suspect vehicle, a black Ford Mustang, had been doing burnouts near his residence and speeding. The caller followed the suspect vehicle down A.L Philpott Hwy. where the vehicles exited onto Greensboro Road, and then headed into the City of Martinsville.
During this time, authorities allege the driver of the Ford Mustang continued to operate the vehicle recklessly. Martinsville Police officers got behind the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop. The driver of the Mustang allegedly ignored the officer’s emergency equipment and increased its speed.
A pursuit ensued down Memorial Blvd towards Walmart, continuing onto Virginia Ave., and then left on Koehler Road. The officers lost sight of the vehicle near the Koehler Road and Appalachian Drive intersection.
Authorities learned the vehicle was registered to Ashton Wright, of 2940 Lee Ford Camp Road, Ridgeway, Va.
Henry County Sheriff’s deputies went to that location in an attempt to locate the vehicle and driver. Upon their arrival, they allege the Ford Mustang was parked in the driveway still running. As the deputies pulled up the driveway, the Mustang allegedly took off driving through the yard. Deputies got behind the Mustang and activated their emergency equipment. A pursuit ensued down Lee Ford Camp Road, heading towards Greensboro Road.
Authorities allege the Mustang driver was again operating the vehicle in a reckless and dangerous manner. The pursuit continued across Greensboro Road, down Church St., and eventually took a right onto Virginia/NC 87. At this time, the Mustang increased its speed well over 100mph.
The pursuit continued down Virginia 87 and entered North Carolina. Eventually, while traveling on West Meadow Road in Eden, N.C., a Henry County Sheriff’s deputy successfully performed a Precision Immobilization Technique (P.I.T) on the Mustang. The vehicle lost traction with the roadway and slid into an embankment. The driver of the vehicle was taken into custody without further incident.
The driver was identified as Ashton Blaze Wright., 21, 2940 Lee Ford Camp Road, Ridgeway, Virginia. He was charged with felony eluding police – Henry County; felony eluding police – City of Martinsville; and
reckless driving – Eden N.C.
Wright is currently held in the Rockingham County Adult Detention Center awaiting extradition.
This investigation is ongoing, anyone having information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Henry County Sheriff’s Office at 276-638-8751 or Crimestoppers at 63-CRIME (632-7463). The Crimestoppers Program offers rewards up to $2,500 for information related to a crime. The nature of the crime and the substance of the information determine the amount of reward paid.
