Driver Flees Traffic Stop After Hit And Run, Crashes Again: Police

ASHBURN, VA — A man from Harrisonburg drove the wrong way on Harry Byrd Highway while fleeing from police in Ashburn on Saturday, authorities said.

Another driver was injured when the fleeing vehicle crashed, according to the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office. They received treatment at a nearby hospital for minor injuries.

Authorities identified the fleeing driver as 29-year-old De'von Harris of Harrisonburg. He is charged with DWI, felony eluding, and two counts of hit and run.

Harris is being held without bond at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center before a May 31 court date.

If convicted of all charges, Harris could face up to 15 years in prison, based on Virginia's sentencing guidelines.

Around 6 p.m. on Saturday, deputies said they saw a man driving erratically in a parking lot before crashing into another vehicle. The man behind the wheel then drove away from the scene, the sheriff's office said.

Deputies tried to stop the driver, who they identified as Harris. However, Harris sped away, according to the police report.

At one point, Harris drove in the wrong direction on the westbound lanes of Harry Byrd Highway, authorities said. He eventually crashed and was taken into custody.

Virginia's drunken driving laws are among the harshest in the nation, the DMV said. If a driver is convicted for a first DUI offense, the minimum punishment includes a $250 fine and a revocation of the driver's license for one year. A DUI conviction can also require the installation of an ignition interlock device.

Across the country, 28 people die in drunken driving crashes every day, according to the DMV.

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