A high speed chase ended with a crash early Tuesday morning. The vehicle involved was reported to have been stolen from Bonham Monday evening, according to sheriff’s and arrest reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputy Aaron Chaney at 2:48 a.m. Tuesday Sept. 22 reported radar showed a Chevrolet Tahoe traveling south on State Highway 19 north of Sulphur Springs at 75 miles per hour in the 65 mph speed zone. The northbound patrol deputy turned around to try to catch up to and stop the white sport utility vehicle.
Chaney alleged the driver, instead of pulling over or slowing down when he activated the emergency lights on his patrol vehicle, the driver accelerated. When the SUV continued, Chaney advised via radio that he was in pursuit of the vehicle. The vehicle allegedly reached speed of more than 120 mph on wet roads during the pursuit, which continued into Sulphur Springs city limits with the deputy keeping the SUV in sight but a distance behind it.
The SUV reportedly turned off SH 19 onto Loop 301 onto Hillcrest Drive, where it allegedly continued at a speed of more than 100 mph. The deputy reported closing the distance between his patrol vehicle and the fleeing SUV as the pursuit crossed State Highway 11 west and continued south on Hillcrest Drive.
As the pursuit neared the Hillcrest Drive-Main Street (US Highway 67) intersection, Chaney observed Sulphur Springs Police units waiting to try to intercept the SUV. The SUV then allegedly turned west onto Main Street and continued traveling at a speed of more than 100 mph as the pursuit approached Interstate 30, Chaney alleged.
As the SUV traveled south on US Highway 67 over the Interstate 30 overpass, the driver reportedly failed to navigate the sharp corner and crashed into a tree line south of the south service road connector, Chaney noted in arrest reports. The 24-year-old man allegedly got out of the wrecked Tahoe, where he complied with officers commands.
During an interview, Fred Castlow Jr. allegedly admitted to stealing the SUV the evening before from Bonham. A record check also showed the 24-year-old to be wanted in Bonham for criminal mischief, family violence assault with a previous conviction, cruelty to animals and bond revocation on the assault charge, Chaney noted in arrest reports.
Dispatchers contacted Bonham Police regarding the allegedly stolen SUV and notified EMS to respond to check out Castlow. The man reportedly refused treatment for any possible injuries. Chaney arrested Castlow at 2:53 a.m. Sept. 22, 2020, for evading arrest or detention in a motor vehicle, and transported the man to jail on that charge as well as the Bonham warrants.
Upon arrival at the county jail, dispatchers advised Bonham Police contacted the vehicle owner who confirmed the vehicle had been stolen. Consequently, the Castlow was also booked into Hopkins County jail at 5:22 a.m. Sept. 22 on an unauthorized use of a vehicle charge, according to arrest reports.
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The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
