Tardy College Student Runs From Police, Bashes Cruiser-Columbia SC

Columbia Police say they were taken on a wild chase through downtown Columbia Thursday morning by a USC student who would not pull over and get out of her car because she was late for class.

According to CPD spokesperson Jennifer Timmons, 20-year-old Brittany Fortuna of Ridgeway is charged with reckless driving, failure to stop for blue lights, malicious injury to personal property, simple assault, and driving without a license.

Timmons says shortly after 9:00 a.m. Fortuna was observed by a police officer in a marked car running a red light at the intersection of Bull and Taylor streets. The officer pulled Fortuna over and she told the officer that she was late for class.

Scared and refusing to get out of the car, according to police, Fortuna took off through a parking lot and down Hampton Street.

Officials say two units pursued Fortuna down Hampton Street and eventually stopped her, but she took off for a second time and hit a patrol car and an officer.

Police say Fortuna didn’t make it too much further down Hampton Street due to traffic. Once again, officers approached Fortuna and asked her to exit the vehicle, but she again refused and locked her doors.

The officers, hoping to end the chase for good, decide to break out Fortuna’s windows and pull her out of the vehicle.

Fortuna was arrested and immediately sent to the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center where she is awaiting a bond hearing.

http://destructiveurge.tumblr.com/