Yemassee Police, Jasper County deputies involved in vehicle chase on I-95

An earlier version of this story incorrectly quoted Joy Nelson, spokeswoman for the Bluffton Police Department, as saying that the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office inititated the chase. A Sheriff’s Office deputy did begin pursuit, according to Sheriff’s Office spokesman Capt. Bob Bromage, but ended pursuit when it became evident that the car was driving recklessly.

Several Lowcountry law enforcement agencies were involved in a vehicle chase on I-95 early Saturday evening.

Yemassee Police Chief Greg Alexander said that the chase started in the Bluffton area. Beaufort County and Jasper County Sheriff’s offices were both involved in the chase.

Joy Nelson, spokeswoman for the Bluffton Police department said that Bluffton Police are not and have not been involved in the chase.

“It’s the Sheriff’s Office chase. We didn’t have anything to do with it,” Nelson said.

Beaufort County deputies terminated the pursuit when they realized the driver was driving recklessly, said Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Capt. Bob Bromage.

By around 5:10 p.m., the chase had shifted directions, turning back towards where it started from, said Alexander.

Yemassee Police became involved at mile marker 34 southbound, Alexander said, staying on the chase until it crossed over into Colleton County.

The pursuit began when Beaufort County Sheriff's Office responded to a call of a female shoplifting at Tanger Outlet 1 in Bluffton, Bromage said Saturday. He said it was reported the woman left the outlet in a red Nissan.

A deputy spotted a vehicle matching the description exiting U.S. 278 onto SC 170 shortly after the incident, Bromage said. He said the deputy turned on their lights in an attempt to stop the vehicle.

"The suspect vehicle accelerated to dangerous speeds," Bromage said. "We terminated pursuit due to a danger that continuing it could pose to the public. There were too many innocent motorists and this person was driving recklessly in their effort to get away."

Bromage said it is a decision deputies have to weigh in each situation.

"Deputies have a heavy responsibility," Bromage said. "When they make a decision like this, it could save a life."

Bromage said he does not have details on why the chase was started again by other police agencies.

Colleton County Sheriff’s Office ended the pursuit according to a statement from Bromage given around 5:40 p.m.

Just last month, a 16-year-old male crashed a car in downtown Savannah after fleeing a suspected crime scene in Bluffton. That chase got up to speeds exceeding 120 mph.

This story was originally published December 16, 2017 at 5:20 PM with the headline "Yemassee Police, Jasper County deputies involved in vehicle chase on I-95."