High-Speed Pursuit on Poole Road Ends Off Clearwater Springs Road

The Wake County Sheriff's Office reported that deputies tried to stop a vehicle for reckless driving about 10:30 p.m. on Jan. 3 on Poole Road near Hodge Road. The driver fled, initiating a pursuit that moved from local streets onto interstate corridors I-540 and I-87, and later onto Clearwater Springs Road, before the vehicle left the roadway.

After the car ran off the road, the driver and two passengers exited the vehicle and ran on foot. Deputies apprehended the driver and one passenger shortly afterward. Officials reported no injuries resulting from the crash. Authorities said charges were pending as investigators continued to examine the circumstances of the pursuit and crash.

The incident briefly involved major arteries that many Wake County residents use for commuting and travel across the county. I-540 and I-87 serve growing suburbs and connect to work centers, schools and retail areas; pursuits that travel onto those roads increase the potential for high-speed encounters to affect uninvolved motorists. While no injuries were reported in this incident, residents in neighborhoods near Poole Road and Clearwater Springs Road may recall the disruption and the safety risks when a traffic stop escalates into a pursuit.

Local law enforcement agencies weigh the risks of vehicle pursuits against the need to apprehend drivers suspected of dangerous behavior. This event underscores those trade-offs and the possible consequences for traffic flow and neighborhood safety when pursuits cross multiple jurisdictions and highway systems. Wake County drivers should be aware that investigations and follow-up enforcement activity can produce temporary road closures, increased patrols and evidence-gathering operations in the areas involved.

The Sheriff's Office is continuing its investigation into the events of Jan. 3, and county prosecutors will determine specific charges as the case proceeds. Residents with information relevant to the pursuit or who may have dashcam or surveillance video of the incident in the Poole Road, Hodge Road, I-540, I-87 or Clearwater Springs Road areas are encouraged to contact investigators. The quick resolution in apprehending two of the three occupants, and the absence of reported injuries, limited the immediate physical harm to the public, but the episode highlights ongoing public-safety challenges as Wake County’s road networks continue to carry growing traffic volumes.