Two people suffered “major non-life threatening injuries” following a car crash that came after a police pursuit.
Virginia State Police was called to assist in a pursuit that was initiated by the Maryland State Police (MSP) and Pocomoke Police Department(PPD) in the early morning hours of Oct. 19 on Route 13.

According to police, the male driver of a 2011 Toyota Camry, identified as Christopher Northcraft, and female passenger, Brandy Bowman, were wanted in Maryland with warrants on file. The vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed with its headlights off. Once the vehicle reached the Virginia state line, a Virginia State trooper attempted to stop/slow down the vehicle by deploying spike strips but was unsuccessful.

The vehicle continued traveling southbound Route 13 at a high rate of speed where Accomack County Sheriff’s Officers began to pursue the vehicle. The vehicle reached speeds in excess of 120 MPH. As the vehicle entered Northampton County, the Virginia State Police took the lead as primary. As the vehicle approached the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, state police notified tunnel personnel that the pursuit was approaching the facility at a high rate of speed and to ensure that no one was in the toll lanes.

The Toyota Camry sped through the toll plaza at approximately 90MPH continuing southbound on the bridge. Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel police attempted to slow down the vehicle, due to bridge repairs that had one lane closed, and were unsuccessful. The vehicle then approached the North Channel high rise, lost control, and struck a curb, spinning the vehicle out of control before flipping over and landing on its roof.

Northcraft, 34, exited the vehicle through the rear glass and attempted to get the female passenger, Bowman, 35, out of the vehicle. Bowman was entrapped inside the vehicle and Northcraft attempted to flee the scene. Northcraft went over the guardrail, and fell to the ground about 30 feet below the roadway.

Northcraft and Bowman both were not wearing their seatbelts at the time of the crash and both suffered major non-life threatening injuries. Both were flown from the scene to Norfolk General Hospital. State Police flew with both subjects due to Northcraft being combative with rescue personnel.

At the time Maryland State Police, Pocomoke Police Department, Accomack Sheriff’s Department and the Virginia State Police will be taking warrants out on Christopher Northcraft, of Brooklyn Park, Maryland. The Commonwealth Attorney, Jack Thorton, was contacted and responded to the scene of the crash, and will be assisting in the ongoing criminal investigation.