Speeder on I-395 Draws a Crowd While Passing Police Motorcade
by Bill Broadway, Washington Post
A 20-year-old Fort Washington man was arrested in Southeast Washington yesterday after leading law enforcement vehicles on a pursuit for nearly 80 miles and almost plowing into a police motorcade, U.S. Park Police said.
Antoine Gray’s car hit numerous vehicles but caused no serious injuries as he fled a Virginia state trooper on Interstates 95 and 395 at speeds in excess of 100 mph, Lt. George Wallace said.
The chase began near Fredericksburg about 9:50 a.m. when the trooper tried to stop Gray for speeding. Gray, heading north, avoided capture by crossing lanes and driving on the shoulder. Near the Pentagon, he used an acceleration lane to pass a dozen motorcycle officers on the right.
“He was really flying,” said Wallace, the Park Police officer in charge of a motorcade escorting families of fallen police officers who had come to town for National Law Enforcement Remembrance Week.
The officers had taken one group of families to their hotel and were returning to Reagan National Airport for another pickup when Wallace, in the middle of the pack, glimpsed a white Acura in his rearview mirror.
Gray missed Wallace but was headed toward the officer in front of him. “The only thing that saved [the officer] was that I hit my siren,” Wallace said. He then heard a police helicopter and saw the unmarked cruiser take the exit to avoid hitting the motorcycles.
Until that point, “we didn’t realize what was going on,” Wallace said. “I’m thinking, this is a chase!”
Several motorcyclists took up the pursuit and joined the helicopter and an increasing number of Park Police and D.C. police officers now involved in the chase. The police vehicles did not try to keep up with Gray but instead worked to trap him, Wallace said.
Eventually, Gray exited I-395, probably on South Capitol Street, and abandoned his car when it blew a tire at 14th and U streets SE, Wallace said. Park Police then pursued Gray and captured him. A female passenger in Gray’s car was questioned and released.
Gray was taken to D.C. General Hospital for shortness of breath and possible intoxication. He faces felony charges of fleeing and hit-and-run in Virginia and numerous offenses in the District, police said.