CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — Bridgeport police made one arrest after weekend pursuit with speeds of over 100 miles per hour.
On Friday, police observed Ronald Gilmore, 43, operating a vehicle with a tail light out at the intersection of Barnetts Run Road and Johnson Avenue at 6:24 p.m.
Police said when they turned around to get behind Gilmore he turned off Johnson Avenue and onto I-79 on ramp and began following a vehicle in front of him very closely.
Police initiated a traffic stop when Gilmore began to pass other vehicles at a high rate of speed, some on the shoulder.
The pursuit reached speeds of 116 miles per hour on I-79 until he exited at U.S. 50 in Clarksburg and immediately reentered the interstate endangering other motorists.
Gilmore then exited at Quiet Dell and turned left on West Virginia Route 20. The pursuit continued for about a mile at speeds of over 80 miles per hour until Gilmore crashed into a ditch.
The vehicle has temporary North Carolina plates, however police learned the car was registered in West Virginia under a different name.
After telling police he had used methamphetamine earlier that day he was transported to United Hospital Center. Gilmore refused to cooperate forcing police to obtain a search warrant to collect blood.
Gilmore has been charged with fleeing while under the influence and is being held in the North Central Regional Jail on a $25,000 bond.