Police chase on busy Wilmington streets

WILMINGTON — A police chase through Wilmington Wednesday night left several people injured. Police say it started around 8:40 p.m. when 31 year-old Shawn Stone rear-ended another car in the 1100 block of South College Road.

“An officer had observed it, witnessed it, tried to stop the suspect vehicle, then left the scene and we had a chase ensure,” said Lt. Kathy Cochran of the Wilmington Police Department.

Police chased Stone down South College Road, where Stone hit at least two vehicles and then made his way onto Market Street. The chase ended when Stone hit several boats out front of Boats Unlimited at 7014 Market Sreet. He eventaully hit one boat head-on and then fled the scene on foot. Police believe alcohol was a factor.

Before crashing into the boat, Stone hit a car in which Ashley Anne Bell was a passenger. “We’re driving home from work in the right lane and this guy comes off the road and totally side-swiped us,” she said. Bell and the driver of the car were not injured.

Bell said it appeared Stone was driving about 50 miles per hour when he hit the boat. She said, “I thought he was going to die, for real, because there’s no telling if those motors could have blew up or what, he’s lucky.”

Police caught Stone soon after he fled the scene. He was treated for injuries at New Hanover Regional Medical Center.

Stone was held in the New Hanover County jail and was released under a $30,000 bond Thursday afternoon. He faces 14 charges, including five felony hit and run counts, DWI, failure to reduce speed, wreckless driving, open container, felony to elude arrest, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and two counts of possession of a schedule two substance.