Police arrest man accused of hitting pedestrian then crashing into pond

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A man faces several charges after an early morning chase ended with one person hit and a truck crashing into a retention pond.

It happened just before 2:30 a.m. on Monday the Staybridge Suites off of New Centre Drive.

Wilmington Police say Robert James Bickford, 31, was trying to run from an officer.

Police say Bickford was speeding on Market Street and then pulled into a parking lot. He tried to exit  by turning left and then jumped the median to get in the westbound lanes. Police say he continued driving, ignoring the police officer’s lights. Police say Bickford then tried to turn right onto Dapple Court and when he did, he hit the curb and struck a pedestrian. Police say when Bickford hit the curb, he launched his truck into the nearby pond.

Bickford got out of the truck before it was submerged and tried to run from police but was caught.

The pedestrian has a broken leg and was taken to New Hanover Regional Medical Center.

Bickford was not hurt.

He is charged with the following:

Driving while impaired
Speeding to elude arrest
Felony hit and run
Serious injury by vehicle-DWI
Failure to maintain lane

He is in jail under a $45,000 bond.