Wrong-Way Driver Tased Following Police Chase

WOODSTOCK, GA — A Woodstock man was arrested and his passenger was injured after a wild police chase that included him driving the wrong way on Interstate 575 in Cobb and Cherokee counties, the Georgia State Patrol has told Patch.

A trooper with the agency began the pursuit around 8:05 p.m. Wednesday, May 2 of a vehicle traveling southbound on the northbound side of I-575 at Towne Lake Parkway. Before the chase, a Woodstock police officer tried to conduct a traffic stop on the SUV, but the "driver would not stop," the Georgia State Patrol added.

According to an incident report released by the Woodstock Police Department, one of its officers tried to pull over a white Dodge SUV traveling westbound on Highway 92 near Moe's Southwest Grill due the vehicle not using its turn signals when it left the restaurant. The vehicle got onto Interstate 575 northbound and the SUV changed lanes several times without using its signals. The officer, who observed a lot of movement taking place inside the vehicle, decided to conduct a traffic stop just before the Towne Lake Parkway interchange.

The SUV got off at Towne Lake Parkway, made a right turn and made an unlawful U-turn at the Woodstock Parkway intersection. The vehicle traveled westbound and got back on the interstate using the Towne Lake Parkway exit ramp to travel southbound in the northbound lanes. At that moment, the Woodstock officer observed the female passenger had been ejected from the SUV near the exit ramp and was found lying in the roadway.

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With the state trooper taking over the pursuit of the SUV, the officer decided to render aid to the woman. However, upon returning to that scene, the officer observed the woman was being treated by Cherokee Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad agents, so he decided to see if he could help in the pursuit of the SUV.

The chase continued southbound in the northbound lanes into Cobb County. According to the Woodstock incident report, the officer got off the interstate at Chastain Road and saw the suspect on the ground in handcuffs.

The Georgia State Patrol said a total of three PIT maneuvers were attempted on the SUV during the pursuit. Following the third maneuver, the driver, identified as Zachary Tyler Bowers, 23, of Woodstock, tried to flee on foot, but was apprehended by the trooper, who had to use his taser on Bowers. The passenger, identified as 23-year-old Jennifer Smith of Jesup, was transported to WellStar Kennestone Hospital for treatment of her injuries. The state agency noted the woman was not ejected due to one of the PIT maneuvers the trooper attempted on the SUV.

Bowers is charged with possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine); driving with license suspended or revoked; improper left or right turn; improper U-turn; failure to use signal when turning or changing lanes; driving too fast for conditions; reckless driving; fleeing or attempting to elude police; aggressive driving; driving on the wrong side of roadway; passing on the shoulder of roadway; driving within gore or median; and failure to yield to authorized emergency vehicle. He was transported to the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center.

Photo: Zachary Tyler Bowers. Credit: Cherokee Sheriff's Office