Chase Leads To Charges in Toccoa

A Hartwell resident faces multiple charges after a high-speed chase in Toccoa.

The Toccoa Police Department says it arrested 23-year-old Kenxaveria Smith of Hartwell early Saturday morning.

According to the report from the Toccoa Police Department, a police officer observed a white SUV failing to maintain its lane as it headed south on Highway 17 just before 3 a.m. on Saturday.

The officer reports that after he activated his blue lights and siren, the vehicle sped up to a high rate of speed and was driving all over the roadway using all lanes, including passing a car in the oncoming lane.

In the report, the officer says the chase went for about eight miles and reached speeds of over 100 miles per hour before the vehicle crashed.

The officer says the SUV left the roadway, collided with a mailbox and tree, then rolled over.

According to the report, Smith was not injured and was arrested for Fleeing in Attempt to Elude, Driving Under the Influence of Drugs, Reckless Driving, Driving Without a License, and Failure to Maintain Lane.

The Georgia State Patrol assisted in the investigation of the wreck that ended the chase.