At least five people were injured Tuesday when a Powder Springs police vehicle was involved in a multivehicle wreck at a busy Cobb County intersection during the pursuit of three carjacking suspects, authorities said.
Two teenagers were arrested after the chase, police said, while a third suspect remains at large. The crash occurred around 2:45 p.m. at Richard D. Sailors Parkway and New Macland Road, which police shut down during the chaos.
Earlier in the afternoon, a Flock camera had alerted officers that the carjacked vehicle from Clayton County was in Powder Springs near Old Lost Mountain Road. During the chase with the Hyundai, Powder Springs police Lt. Robert Bodron was traveling west on Sailors Parkway in a 2022 Ford Explorer with his lights and sirens activated.
Cobb police said the patrol vehicle was then T-boned in the intersection by a 2007 Toyota 4Runner, which rotated and stopped in the westbound lanes. The impact also caused the Ford to collide with a 2019 Honda Odyssey, police said, and both vehicles came to a rest in the eastbound lanes.
“The officer’s vehicle along with two other vehicles were damaged severely, which disrupted traffic near this intersection for an extended period of time,” Powder Springs police said.
The passenger in the Toyota and all four occupants of the Honda were taken to hospitals with minor injuries, according to authorities. Bodron and the driver of the Toyota declined an ambulance at the scene.
After the crash, police said the pursuit of the stolen vehicle continued for another two miles toward Rushing Wind Court, where the vehicle became stuck in the mud. The suspects got out and ran.
A 16-year-old, who is from Cobb, was quickly taken into custody and is facing charges of possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of a stolen firearm, obstruction and traffic offenses. Destyn Wilson, 17, was arrested about two hours later after a witness spotted him walking around their property. He is charged with obstruction, police said.
On Tuesday evening, Powder Springs police Capt. Anthony Stallings said the third suspect was likely on foot in the area.
“If you see anything suspicious, please call 911,” he added. “Stay safe inside your house.”
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