Naples man arrested for crashing car into concrete pole during high-speed chase

NAPLES, Fla. – A Naples man was arrested for crashing a car into a concrete pole during a high-speed chase in Collier County.

Collier County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested Joshua Whipple, 40, after the chase.

A deputy saw a car driving without working tag lights that appeared to be avoiding the deputy’s patrol car. CCSO said the deputy tried conducting a traffic stop, but the car sped up and ran a red light on Airport-Pulling Road South.

The driver was going about 80 mph on Airport before turning on Davis Boulevard, where he went over 100 mph, according to deputies. The car was seen nearly losing control multiple times.

After running another red light on Davis Boulevard near Santa Barbara Boulevard, other units were ahead with stop sticks and were able to incapacitate the front driver’s side tire. The deputy said pieces of the tire were seen coming off.

The driver crossed over to continue driving on the wrong side of the road when it hit a concrete pole east on Davis Boulevard right past Market Street. CCSO said the driver was seen running from the vehicle across Market Street and behind a retaining wall on Davis Boulevard.

Whipple was eventually detained by deputies. CCSO said fentanyl was found in the car, and Whipple claimed nothing in the car was his. The owner of the car came to pick it up after Whipple was caught.

Deputies said Whipple was arrested for fleeing and eluding, possession of a controlled substance, driving with a revoked license, violating probation for felony possession of cocaine, resisting law enforcement without violence, and leaving the scene of a crash with property damage.

The post Naples man arrested for crashing car into concrete pole during high-speed chase appeared first on NBC2 News.