One dead after police chase ends in crash
Published 12:42 am Wednesday, April 24, 2024
(This story has been updated to include new information released by the sheriff’s office.)
ROWAN COUNTY — A man is dead after deputies said he crashed his motorcycle while attempting to flee from a traffic stop.
The crash occurred in the 1000 block of Shue Road at approximately 10:30 p.m., when the motorcyclist attempted to go around a turn while fleeing from a deputy. The single occupant of the motorcycle was thrown from the vehicle, killing him.
A release from the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office identified the man as Jeremy Lee Roush. According to North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections records, Roush was 44 years old.
Captain Mark McDaniel, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office, said that the incident began after a deputy responded to the Circle K on Main Street in China Grove in reference to a man going around the parking lot threatening people with a knife.
The deputy initially did not find any suspects. While speaking with witnesses, the deputy and officers with the China Grove Police Department determined that Roush was having an altercation with his ex-girlfriend in the parking lot, according to the release. When a bystander attempted to intervene, Roush allegedly pulled a knife and threatened him with it. The ex-girlfriend then got into her car and drove away, with Roush pursuing her on his motorcycle, according to the release.
While the deputy was speaking with the workers of the store they identified a man on a motorcycle, following the ex-girlfriend’s yellow PT Cruiser, that performed a u-turn as Roush.
The deputy then returned to his vehicle and attempted to stop the motorcycle, at which point Roush fled from the traffic stop, according to McDaniel. Eventually the motorcycle turned left onto Shue Road and traveled approximately a mile before Roush lost control and crashed.
McDaniel confirmed that the motorcycle was the only vehicle involved in the crash and Roush was the only one injured in the crash.
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.