By Becky Purser
TELEGRAPH STAFF WRITER
FORT VALLEY- A passenger in a car that fled from Fort Valley police early today was hospitalized, while an infant and a 3-year-old passengers were OK, authorities say.
The driver, Cesario Bautista, 25, of Americus, also was admitted for observation at The Medical Center of Central Georgia, Georgia State Patrol Operator Angie Ellis said. The passenger, Olga Alvarado, who was thrown from the vehicle, was in intensive care, Ellis said. The 25-year-old Americus woman’s condition was not immediately available, Ellis said.
Fort Valley Capt. W.K. Richardson said a police officer attempted to pull Bautista over for speeding south on Ga. 49. The driver refused to stop, and a chase ensued down Ga. 49 and then north on U.S. 341.
Roads were slick from rain, and Bautista pulled away from the officer who was traveling 70 mph, Richardson said. When the officer caught up to the car, it had crashed in a ditch just past the Food Depot on U.S. 341.
“The driver never slowed down,” Richardson said.
Richardson said it is not known why Bautista refused to pull over.
When Bautista lost control of the car, it hit a ditch and overturned. It came to rest upright about 345 feet from where the tires left the road, according to the GSP. Alvarado was thrown about 60 feet from the vehicle, Ellis said.
Trooper Crystal Folds, who is investigating the accident, was off duty and could not be reached immediately for comment.
Macon Telegraph (http://www.macon.com/)