SUV leading law enforcement on chase crashes into house and causes gas leak, SC police say
A chase Saturday night ended with an SUV crashing into a Columbia home and causing a gas leak, according to the Forest Acres Police Department.
The incident began at about 10:50 p.m., when officers responded to a call about people arguing and fighting in the 1600 block of Atascadero Drive, police said Sunday in a news release. That’s just off Forest Drive, less than half a mile from a Trader Joe’s grocery store.
The officers determined the group, which included juveniles, was attending a party at a rental house, according to the release. While questioning the tenant, officers saw a Nissan Armada leave the backyard and nearly hit people standing outside, police said.
Officers followed the SUV and saw it turn onto Ponte Vedra Road, about half a mile from the rental home, when it turned off its headlights and accelerated, according to the release. Officers attempted a traffic stop as the SUV drove off and rounded a corner, where the driver lost control and the vehicle crashed into the front of a home, police said.
A woman was sitting on the porch of the home that was hit by the SUV, according to the release. Neither the woman nor any of the people inside the home was injured, police said.
Ring camera footage from the home showed seven people get out of the SUV and immediately run away after the crash, according to the release.
The SUV also hit the home’s gas meter, creating a hazardous gas leak, police said. The Columbia Fire Department, Dominion Energy and the South Carolina Department of Transportation were called to repair the gas leak, according to the release.
The damaged home and surrounding homes were evacuated as crews dug up the gas line and turned it off, police said. Information about how long it took to stop the leak and how much gas was released was not available.
No injuries were caused by the gas leak, police said.
As crews worked on the gas leak, additional officers and a police dog searched for the people who had fled the crashed SUV. Officers established a perimeter off Covenant Road, according to the release.
Two adults and a juvenile were found hiding in a creek, police said. All three were interviewed and released pending the investigation, which includes officers speaking to witnesses, reviewing surveillance footage, and processing the SUV and evidence found inside it, police said.
“We are extremely relieved that no innocent residents were injured in what could have been a tragic situation,” Forest Acres Police Chief Don Robinson said in the release. “From the reckless driving to the resulting gas leak, this incident put lives at risk.
“We are working diligently to identify the driver and will pursue charges to hold them accountable for their reckless actions.”
Anyone with information about the crash or those involved is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 888-CRIME-SC or submit an online tip.
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This story was originally published January 5, 2025 at 3:27 PM.
