Authorities say an Apex woman who led them on a high speed chase through multiple counties said she did so because someone was trying to kill her.
A Salisbury Police officer on his way to another call spotted a Pontiac G6 speeding on Interstate 85 Tuesday around 7 p.m. The car was driven by a woman later identified as 27-year-old Jessica Manuszak. The officer pursued the vehicle as the driver reached speeds of 118 mph traveling from Davidson County to Rowan and Cabarrus counties. Salisbury Police began pursuing the vehicle near the Jake Alexander Boulevard exit and the chase ended near a rest area just beyond Dale Earnhardt Boulevard at exit 60.
The N.C. Highway Patrol joined in the pursuit as Manuszak began swerving across four lanes of traffic, missing vehicles, including a tractor trailer. She struck a vehicle along the way. Other motorists had to frantically move onto the shoulder to avoid causing an accident.
Officers noticed the driver throwing pieces of paper out of the window and sunroof. It is not clear what she was throwing out, Capt. Shelia Lingle said.
Law enforcement had planned to pull out stop sticks around the Concord/Kannapolis exit 58, but Manuszak pulled into the rest area. She immediately tried to return to the roadway, but stopped her car when she hit another vehicle. When officers ordered her to get on the ground, Manuszak refused. She was placed on the ground by officers and handcuffed. Officers also had to use leg restraints on Manuszak.
“She said someone was trying to kill her,” Lingle said.
Officers noted in the report Manuszak urinated once in her car, again while standing before her arrest and also inside the back of an officer’s patrol car.
She was taken to Rowan Regional Medical Center, where she is being evaluated.
She told police while at the hospital “her boyfriend was trying to kill her.”
The Salisbury Police served arrest warrants for driving while impaired and felony fleeing to elude arrest following Manuszak’s evaluation.
She is also being charged by Davidson County Highway Patrol and Cabarrus County law enforcement officials for causing collisions during the chase.