Chase ends when car collides with deputy's SUV

Deputy Kyle Welborn, who was in the sheriff’s office SUV, wasn’t severely injured and missed one day of work before he was cleared to return to duty, said Major Logan Kerr of the sheriff’s office. Welborn was taken to Wilkes Regional Medical Center.

Capt. Chris Arnder of the Wilkesboro Police Department said Curtis Grant Wood, 37, of Statesville Road, North Wilkesboro, driver of the pursued 2001 Lincoln Town Car, refused treatment from Wilkes Emergency Medical Services at the scene.

Arnder said Lt. Preston Parsons of the Wilkesboro Police Department was westbound on N.C. 268 West near the Stokes Street intersection about 1:13 p.m. Friday when he saw the eastbound Lincoln nearly collide with other vehicles while traveling in the center turn lane at a high speed .

Arnder said Parsons turned around and headed east on N.C. 268 West in pursuit of the Lincoln after it passed by him. Parsons, with his blue light and siren activated, continued pursuing the Lincoln as it exited N.C. 268 West (River Street) and went east on U.S. 421 Bypass.

He said the chase continued as the Lincoln took the exit ramp from U.S. 421 to N.C. 115, turned left on N.C. 115, crossed U.S. 421 and took the exit ramp to go west on U.S. 421.

Arnder said that when Wood swerved to avoid stop sticks placed in the roadway by the deputy to puncture his tires, he overcorrected and collided with the patrol car. The collision occurred about 1:20 p.m. Both vehicles were heavily damaged.

The Wilkesboro Police Department charged Wood with speeding to arrest with a motor vehicle, driving while impaired, aggravated serious injury by vehicle, driving while license revoked, having a fictitious tag, possession of schedule III controlled substance, failure to reduce speed to avoid colliding with another vehicle, reckless driving, speeding, failure to maintain lane control, move over-personal injury property damage, stop sign violation, possession of marijuana, no auto insurance, no registration, open title and littering.