SUMTER COUNTY, S.C. — A man is in jail after leading deputies from two counties, and nearly a third, on a pursuit through the Columbia area.
The chase began during a license safety check in the area of St. Paul Church Road near McCray's Mill Road, officials with the Sumter County Sheriff's Office said.
During the check, deputies said they saw a vehicle turn around in the road improperly and without a signal. Deputies attempted to stop the driver but said that he failed to stop.
What followed was a chase that went out of Sumter County into Richland County and then through parts of Columbia. As the chase began to reach Richland County, the Sumter County Sheriff's Office said that it called ahead and deputies deployed spike strips in the area of Lower Richland High School.
The spike strip was ultimately successful but the driver continued onward passing Prisma Richland Hospital and continuing further down to Broad River Road - now with deputies from both counties involved.
The vehicle then continued onto I-20 and, according to Sumter County officials, had lost its tires somewhere along the way. The chase came to an end in the middle of the interstate toward Kershaw County, the sheriff's office said.
The driver, 57-year-old Reginald Van Lyons of Sumter was arrested and charged with improper turn, failure to stop for blue lights, and driving under suspension.
He has been taken to the Sumter County Detention Center pending a bond hearing.