Police dashcam video released earlier this week shows the dramatic events during a high-speed chase in Tennessee on Jan. 24, that left 15 cars damaged, including two Tennessee Highway Police cruisers.
The chase began when officers spotted a stolen vehicle, driven by a suspect accused of rape, who was involved in an earlier pursuit in Nashville.
Police took after the car, sparking a 30 kilometre chase that weaved along busy Chattanooga highways.
Twenty-year-old Cordarius Caldwell attempted to evade police by cutting dangerously through traffic and reaching speeds of 130 kph.
At one point an officer was recorded describing Caldwell’s driving as, “really reckless.”
One police officer was lucky to escape the pursuit without serious injury after losing control of his vehicle trying to avoid another motorist.
WATCH: Police cruiser narrowly avoids ramming into overpass
The officer was forced to veer off the road and up an embankment, just missing the side of a bridge, and coming to a stop under the overpass.
Trooper Calvin Naipo was taken to hospital with a minor head injury.
“He’s making contact with other vehicles,” another highway patrolman was recorded saying, as debris from cars Caldwell collided with scattered the roadway.
“Can we make contact?” asked another officer, who was looking to end the chase before the chase escalated any further.
“The danger to the public was significant,” said Lieutenant John Harmon of the Tennessee Highway Patrol. “We had to stop the fleeing suspect and take him into custody.”
That’s when at least two cruisers slammed into Caldwell’s vehicle, triggering the airbags and sending the car spinning.
Caldwell was arrested without incident and has been charged with 12 counts, including aggravated assault with a motor vehicle, felony evading arrest, felony reckless endangerment, and theft of property over $10,000.
Caldwell has also been charged with aggravated rape and false imprisonment by Nashville police in connection to the alleged rape.
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