Photo of the Newport News Sheriff’s vehicle. (Photo credit: Virginia State Police)
WYTHE COUNTY, Va. – Virginia State Police are investigating an incident that involved two hit-and-run crashes Monday morning.
One City of Newport News Sheriff’s vehicle was rammed during the incident and a passenger in the suspect vehicle was found to have been abducted.
Around 8:30 a.m. a Honda Odyssey ran off the road at Route 52 and Rose Hill Road in Wythe County.
The minivan then crashed through a fence and nearly hit a house.
The Honda then fled the scene and got onto Interstate 81 at exit 70.
Around 9 a.m. the same vehicle was traveling south on I-81 when it rammed into a Newport News Sheriff’s Office vehicle that was also traveling southbound.
The Newport News deputies were going to Wallens Ridge State Prison to pick up an inmate for a court appearance.
When their vehicle was struck, it spun off the right side of the interstate and hit the guardrail.
The two deputies inside the vehicle were not injured and the Honda fled the scene after the crash, according to Virginia State Police.
A Smyth County Deputy Sheriff later spotted the suspect vehicle in a “park and ride” lot off of exit 80.
40-year-old Roy Crutchfield of South Carolina was detained along with a 35-year-old female passenger.
During the detainment Crutchfield assaulted the deputy and when he was finally taken into custody he was transported to the New River Regional Valley in Dublin, Virginia.
Further investigation revealed the female passenger had been abducted by Crutchfield Sunday night.
The female passenger was not injured in the crashes.
Crutchfield has been charged with one felony count of abduction, two felony counts of attempted capital murder, two felony counts of attempted manslaughter, one felony count of hit-and-run, one felony count of unauthorized use of a vehicle, one felony count of destruction of property, one misdemeanor count of hit-and-run, and one misdemeanor count of possession of marijuana.
The incident is under further investigation.
