WASHINGTON — A driver, who Virginia State Police tried to pull over for speeding, hit the gas and reached speeds over 120 mph on Interstate 66 before causing a 7-vehicle crash — all with four young children in the SUV.
Troopers attempted to stop Rodney Leroy Nelson’s 2016 Pathfinder on eastbound I-66 at the Virginia Route 234 Bypass after radar registered Nelson driving 86 mph in a 60 mph zone.
According to Virginia State Police, Nelson, 33, topped 120 mph before taking the Route 234 Business exit, also known as Sudley Road, Monday afternoon.
With slower traffic on the exit, Nelson rear-ended a BMW, causing a chain-reaction crash involving seven vehicles.
Nelson’s Pathfinder ran off the road, hit a street sign and came to rest against an embankment — and he took off running.
A trooper caught Nelson and tried to take him into custody. Four good Samaritans nearby came to the trooper’s aid, and with the help of a second trooper, Nelson was handcuffed.
Nelson was treated for minor injuries at a Prince William County hospital.
He is charged with one felony count of eluding police and one felony count of hit-and-run, as well as resisting arrest, reckless driving, driving on a suspended license and four counts of child endangerment. Nelson is being held at the county jail.
The front-seat passenger, a 33-year-old woman, suffered minor injuries. Her four children, twin 6-year-old girls and a 3-year-old twin boy and girl were not injured in the crash and were turned over to family members.
Police say the adult couple is refusing to cooperate and provide a current address.
