POWHATAN COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — The 18-year-old who led police on a high-speed chase that ended with a deadly crash in Powahtan County on Tuesday is facing a laundry list of charges, including one count of second degree murder.
Tuesday afternoon, Virginia State Police received reports of a Chevrolet Tahoe driving recklessly in the Cumberland Courthouse area in Cumberland County. A trooper later observed the reported vehicle driving 79 mph in a 35 mph zone. When the trooper activated his emergency lights and siren, the suspect vehicle refused to stop and continued traveling at a high rate of speed.
As the pursuit entered Powhatan County heading east on Route 60, the Powhatan County Sheriff’s Office deployed a tire deflation deflation device at the intersection of Route 60 and Route 522. As the suspect vehicle approached the intersection, it made an abrupt lane change to the right and struck a 2009 Kia. The two occupants of the vehicle were transported via med-flight to VCU Medical Center with serious injuries. The driver, 73-year-old Thomas R. Rutledge of Powhatan, died from his injuries. His wife and passenger, 60-year-old Shannon Rutledge, was hospitalized with serious but non-life threatening injuries.
It was later determined the Tahoe 18-year-old Andre T. Eanes of Rice was operating during the pursuit was reported stolen out of Prince Edward County earlier in the day.
On Wednesday, Virginia State Police announced that Eanes was facing the following charges out of Cumberland: Felony eluding a police officer, reckless driving (79/35mph zone), reckless driving (110/55 mph zone), crossing a double yellow line, fail to drive right of center and reckless driving-endangering life, limb or property.
Eanes is facing the following charges out of Powahtan: 2nd degree murder, grand larceny, felony elduding a police officer
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