Accused DUI driver drives over spike strips at 100 mph

Keith Leo Martin

Keith Leo Martin

An alleged drunken driver thought he could flee Hall County deputies by driving faster than 100 mph, officials said.

After deputies turned on their blue lights, Keith Leo Martin drove away from the area of Georgia Avenue and West Ridge Road, where someone reported shots fired about 11:20 p.m. Friday, Hall County sheriff’s spokesman Lt. Scott Ware said in a news release.

Despite using spike strips, Martin allegedly continued to flee from deputies and drive erratically.

“Although some of Martin’s tires were flattened by the spike strips, he still continued to flee, swerving in and out of oncoming traffic,” Ware said.

The deputies chasing Martin had to use a precision immobilization technique — or PIT maneuver — to force Martin to stop. The maneuver is a controlled crash that deputies are trained to use when suspects won’t pull over.

Even after the crash, Martin tried to run away from the scene and fought with deputies, Ware said.

Deputies found an open container in Martin’s Pontiac Grand Prix, Ware said.

He was arrested and charged with three counts of aggravated assault on a peace officer, DUI, driving without a license, without registration and no proof of insurance as well as multiple traffic infractions such as running two red lights.

Martin remains in the Hall County jail.

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