High-speed pursuit ends in Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel crash

NORTHAMPTON — Virginia State Police assisted in a high speed pursuit crossing state lines Tuesday that ended after the suspect crashed near the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.

Police say the chase began on Route 13 in Maryland where a wanted man and passenger were pursued by Maryland State Police and the Pocomoke Police Department, said State Police spokeswoman Michelle Anaya.

The suspect drove a 2011 Toyota Camry reaching speeds up to 120 mph, according to police.

Officials say when the vehicle crossed state lines, a Virginia State Trooper deployed spike strips but was unsuccessful.

The pursuit continued southbound on Route 13 through Northampton County. As the vehicle approached the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, Accomack County sheriff ’s officers and Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel police joined the pursuit.

At the North Channel high rise, the suspect lost control of the car, hit a curb and spun out before flipping over, according to state police. The driver exited the overturned car through the rear window, and attempted to free the passenger before fleeing on foot, police said.

While fleeing, the man “went over the guardrail” and fell to the ground about 30 feet below the roadway, Anaya said.

The driver, Christopher Northcraft, 34, of Maryland, and his female passenger, Brandy Bowman, 35, both had “major non-life-threatening injures” in the crash and were flown to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, Anaya said. They were not wearing seat belts at the time of the crash.

Because Northcraft was “combative with rescue personnel,” Anaya said, state police officers flew on the rescue helicopter with medics.