Lexington, SC (Paul Kirby) – Officers from the town of Lexington and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department were searching an area near South Lake Drive and Gibson Road very early Thursday morning after someone in a truck attempted to elude law enforcement officers. Eventually, the fleeing vehicle wrecked in the vicinity of the South Lake Center office complex sparking a manhunt.

Details were few at 4:15 a.m., however we do know that sometime around 3:00 a.m. Thursday, law enforcement officers attempted to stop the driver of the truck. Instead of pulling over after law enforcement engaged their warning devices, the truck continued on refusing to stop. Because the driver's actions didn't meet the parameters of the law enforcement agency's pursuit policy, the officer disengaged his warning devices; however the officer continued to travel in the direction the truck had been going. Shortly after, he discovered the truck wrecked near South Lake Drive and Gibson Road. EMS and the Lexington County Fire Service were dispatched to a wreck in that area, but the first responders were waved off on their arrival by the police.

After the wreck, someone fled on foot and managed to make it into a wooded area. Officer from the Lexington Police Department quickly set up a perimeter assisted by deputies from the Sheriff’s Department and began a manhunt. The truck’s identifications were checked and came back registered to an owner who lived in the town. It isn’t known at this time if the vehicle was being driven by its owner, was stolen, being used without permission, or exactly who was driving. Lexington police officers were checking on that at about the same time they were searching.

Just before 5:00 a.m., officers began collapsing the perimeter and most of the them went back to their normal patrols. We have not been advised if anyone was detained at this point. Additional information has been requested from a spokesman for the Lexington Police Department and we will update this story if receive more.  

UPDATE: As of 11:00 Thursday morning law enforcement is still attempting to locate the driver of the truck. If you have any information about the driver contact Crimestoppers at 1-888-Crime SC or on their website at midlandscrimestoppers.com.