Theft suspect in box truck leads police, deputies on chase down I-85
ATLANTA, Ga. – A man driving a box truck sped away from law enforcement on Sunday, leading police officers and deputies on a chase down I-85 in the pouring rain.
Eric Coleman, 34, faces several charges, including fleeing a police officer, reckless driving and theft by shoplifting. He is being held in Coweta County Jail with no bond.
At around 3:30 p.m., Newnan police told Coweta County deputies they were pursuing a theft suspect driving a white Penske truck. The truck had been running red lights and was going about 80 mph, police said.
The suspect went on and off I-85, police said, at one point cutting through a ditch to get back on the interstate.
“It [the van] actually started swerving back and forth in its lane, creating a hazard to other motorists due to the heavy rainfall and wet roads,” a Coweta County deputy wrote in his report. “The Penske truck could have easily lost control.”
The deputy took over and tried to stop the vehicle using a Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT) maneuver, which was successful on the fourth try. In the dashcam video, the Penske truck can be seen sliding across the road and smashing into the median head-on.
Law enforcement quickly surrounded the truck, and the man put his hands in the air and surrendered without incident.