Two hot pursuits and a semi crash that resulted in a fuel leak ran area deputies ragged in a chaotic two-hour stretch on Thursday afternoon. Here’s what went down. Just after 1:30 pm, a Kia collided with a semi-truck at the intersection of US 32 and SR 220.
That collision resulted in a diesel fuel leak. The Piketon Fire Department and Pike County EMA responded to the scene to assist. Fortunately, neither the truck driver nor the woman behind the wheel of the Kia were seriously injured.
Just two hours later, two police pursuits started at the same time at opposite ends of Pike County.
Waverly Police contacted the sheriff’s Office to say they were pursuing a dump truck with no plates that refused to pull over. Deputies joined in and chased the vehicle all the way into Ross County, where Ross County Officers and the Ohio State Patrol joined in. That pursuit lasted for an hour as the driver weaved in and out of roads, trying to avoid attempts to stop him.
The driver hit a Waverly police cruiser during the chase. The pursuit ended on Harwood Road in Ross County, and the driver took off on foot. Officers quickly chased down 30-year-old Staie Stepp of Chillicothe. Step was arrested and charged with felony failure to comply and felonious assault on a peace officer.
The second pursuit started in Oak Hill when local officers and Ohio State Troopers went after a green pickup with fictitious plates. Pike County Deputies joined in the chase, which ended in the 2200 block of Salem Cave Road. Police arrested 40-year-old Christopher Greene for felony failure to comply, fictitious plate, and reckless driving.
Both of these terrible drivers are behind bars.
