Police officer, suspect injured in high-speed chase

By Carey Phillips and Lisa Majors-Duff

Officer Shannon Ashe, 27, was stationed in his vehicle at the intersection of U.S. 23-441 and U.S. 23 Business in an attempt to prevent traffic from entering the intersection until a high-speed pursuit passed, said Sylva Police Chief Jeff Jamison.

Ashe was assisting Sylva officers Rick Bryson and Aimee Sumner, all of whom had responded to a call for assistance from the Jackson County Sheriff's Office. Ashe was wearing his seat belt, which was a factor in reducing his injuries, said N.C. Highway Patrol Sgt. Matt Wike, who investigated the accident.

Also injured was Rachel M. Jeffrey, 26, of Melbourne, Fla., who locked the brakes on her 2000 Chevrolet S-10 pickup after hitting stop sticks officers had deployed near the intersection. The pickup skidded and struck the Chevrolet Impala police cruiser on the driver's side, Wike said.

Both Ashe and Jeffrey suffered from head and neck injuries. They were treated and released at Harris Regional Hospital, Jamison said.

Speeds during the chase, which had started near Tathams Creek Road on U.S. 23-441, exceeded 90 miles an hour, the approximate rate at the point of impact, Jackson County Sheriff Jimmy Ashe said.

The incident started when Deputy Scott Holder of the Sheriff's Office noticed Jeffrey's pickup truck parked on the shoulder of the northbound lane of 23-441 at about 2:45 a.m. Monday. When he stopped to determine the driver's condition, she sped away, Sheriff Ashe said.

"(Holder) initiated warnings - blue light and sirens," the sheriff said, "but the vehicle refused to stop."

As the chase continued toward Dillsboro, Holder requested assistance from the Sylva Police Department. That's when Bryson and Sumner positioned the stop sticks at the intersection, Chief Jamison said, and Ashe used his vehicle to stop oncoming traffic.

Charges against Jeffrey, who was being held in the Jackson County Jail Monday morning on $9,000 bond, included driving while intoxicated, fleeing to elude arrest, failure to heed warning lights and siren, speeding in excess of 35 miles per hour over the posted speed limit, reckless driving, no operator's license and having an open container of alcohol in her vehicle.

Jeffrey, who told officers she was traveling through Jackson County on her way to New York, is scheduled to appear in court Jan. 13.

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