A woman pulled over by Capitol police Friday morning led authorities on a chase through East Point and downtown Atlanta before hitting three vehicles on busy Peachtree Street, the Georgia State Patrol said.
Authorities initially stopped Ashlea Baumann, 38, of Snellville, about 9 a.m. on Northside Drive near Markham Street for a tag infraction, according to the GSP.
After a “brief encounter” with the officer, she sped away in a black Audi and led the officer on a 16-minute pursuit, officials said.
The chase ended when Baumann ran a red light at the intersection of West Peachtree Street and North Avenue and hit a Ford Mustang, a Ford 500 and a Jeep Wrangler, according to authorities.
Occupants in the Ford vehicles were taken to area hospitals with injuries that were not considered life-threatening. The driver of the Jeep was evaluated at the scene and released.
Baumann, whose driver’s license was suspended for multiple infractions, was taken to the Fulton County Jail. Authorities learned she had active warrants for her arrest out of DeKalb and Gwinnett counties, and the Audi was stolen.
Police found narcotics and drug paraphernalia during a search of the car, according to the GSP.
Baumann remains in jail on several traffic violations, including speeding and eluding police as well as obstruction of officers.
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