Police are searching for the driver of a Mercedes-Benz SUV who fled state troopers during a traffic stop Thursday night, led police on a chase through Buckhead and crashed before escaping on foot.
Police tried to pull over the SUV about 10:50 p.m. after a trooper noticed the vehicle fail to maintain its lane on Piedmont Road, the Georgia State Patrol said Friday in an emailed statement.
The trooper initiated a traffic stop near Peachtree Road and made contact with the driver, who immediately sped off, police said.
The trooper returned to his patrol car and tried to catch the SUV on Peachtree Road when the Mercedes-Benz crashed into several utility poles near Sardis Way, authorities said.
The SUV caught fire and the driver ran.
Credit: Special to The AJC
Credit: Special to The AJC
Georgia Power, Atlanta City Works and AT&T were notified of the damages, and Peachtree Road was closed for about two and a half hours as utility crews cleared the wreckage. Police searched the area but could not find the driver.
Authorities have not released a description of the person behind the wheel.
Investigators do not believe the driver of the SUV was the owner, police said. Nobody else was in the vehicle at the time of the wreck and no injuries were reported.
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