A high-speed police chase that brought traffic to a standstill on Interstate 285 Tuesday afternoon ended in a violent crash, and now, authorities have identified the suspect at the center of the dramatic pursuit.
According to the Georgia State Patrol, the chase began just after 2:30 p.m. when officers attempted to stop a black Dodge Charger for reckless driving near the I-285/I-20 interchange on the city’s west side. The driver, later identified as 24-year-old Marcus Darnell Thompson of Decatur, allegedly refused to pull over and led police on a chase exceeding speeds of 120 miles per hour.
Helicopter footage showed the vehicle weaving dangerously through heavy traffic, at times driving on the shoulder and narrowly avoiding collisions. The pursuit came to an end near the Glenwood Road exit when Thompson’s vehicle struck a median and collided with two other cars.
Emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene. Thompson was taken into custody after being treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Two other motorists involved in the crash were also injured but are expected to recover.
Thompson is facing multiple charges, including felony fleeing, reckless driving, and possession of a stolen vehicle. Authorities confirmed that the Dodge Charger had been reported stolen from a dealership in Gwinnett County earlier this week.
The incident caused major traffic delays for several hours as crews worked to clear the wreckage. All lanes of I-285 were reopened by 6:45 p.m.
The Georgia State Patrol says the investigation is ongoing.
