A Spencer man led authorities on a chase through the western part of the county that ended with a collision involving a utility pole Saturday morning.
The driver, Zachary Dale Ingram, 27, told a Rowan County Sheriff’s deputy he didn’t stop because he knew he didn’t have the proper registration on the license plate.
The agency charged Ingram of the 400 block of South Carolina Ave, with felony fleeing to elude arrest, injury to personal property and displaying a fictitious registration plate, both misdemeanors.
Authorities say had he stopped for a deputy, he would’ve likely been issued a citation for displaying a fictitious registration, which is a misdemeanor.
The incident began about 3 a.m. at Woodleaf and Enon Church roads. A deputy noticed the Honda Civic that Ingram was driving and felt suspicious. The officer followed the vehicle, which soon passed a mini-van over a double-yellow line, which is illegal. The Civic then sped up and the officer began pursuing it.
The driver went through the intersection of West Ridge and U.S. 601 without stopping. The driver continued onto East Ridge Road and passed the Ellis Crossroads community.
The driver hit a utility pole at Calvary Baptist Church, on East Ridge Road, a department report said.
The pole split and the car was entangled in power lines. A report said Ingram was able to get out of the vehicle on his own, but he had cuts to his hand and complained of shoulder pain.
The deputy noted in his report that Ingram was not intoxicated.
The N.C. Highway Patrol investigated the wreck.