15-year-old driver leads Alabama police on 5-county chase

A 15-year-old from Tennessee was arrested Saturday morning after leading state and local police on a chase through five counties before he was stopped.

The incident started at approximately 7:20 a.m. Saturday, when a pursuit began that involved troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) Highway Patrol Division.

The pursuit started in Centre, in Cherokee County, after a police officer with Centre Police Department attempted to stop a 2023 Nissan Armada.

The driver of the Armada failed to stop, and a pursuit ensued.

The pursuit traveled south on U.S. 411 before turning onto Interstate 59.

During the pursuit, two civilian vehicles were struck by the Armada, in Jefferson County. The pursuit ended when the Armada left the roadway and struck a fence and building while exiting Interstate 59 at the 77 mile marker, in Tuscaloosa County.

The driver of the Armada fled on foot and was apprehended by an ALEA Trooper without incident. Several other agencies assisted in the pursuit that spanned across five counties. There were no injuries reported and no use of force used during the incident. There were no ALEA vehicles damaged during the course of the pursuit.

The driver, a 15-year-old, of New Market, Tenn. was arrested, transported to the Tuscaloosa County Juvenile Detention Center, and charged with Felony Eluding.