Authorities release name of man involved in high-speed chase

Published 9:39 am Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Authorities on Wednesday released the name of a man that led officers on a high-speed chase Monday that ended with the man crashing his vehicle into an Alabama State Trooper patrol car on the off-ramp at Exit 114 in Butler County.

Ricky Eddins, 39, of Crossville, Ala., later died at Pensacola’s Baptist Medical Center South as a result of the injuries he suffered from the crash, according to Alabama State Trooper Kevin Cook.

The Butler County Sheriff’s Office and the Greenville Police Department became involved with the pursuit near mile marker 130.

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According to Alabama State Troopers, motorist reported that a gray pickup truck was traveling north at a high rate of speed and driving recklessly. At 12:15 p.m., troopers were dispatched to the area and initiated pursuit near mile marker 137 when Eddins refused to stop. Eddins continued traveling north on Interstate 65, running other vehicles off the road and striking two Greenville Police Department patrol cars and an Alabama State Trooper patrol car.

“As they went back north of Greenville, he struck one of the police vehicles in the rear end and caused it to lose control and skidded out,” said Lt. Justin Lovvorn of the Greenville Police Department. “His vehicle was not drivable after that. The suspect continued on southbound and as they go past the Greenville exit, he struck the other Greenville unit in the side.”

Spikes were spread across the roadway several times before the suspect ran over the spikes near mile marker 118, Butler County Sheriff Kenny Harden said. The chase ended when the individual crashed into another patrol car on the off-ramp at Exit 114.

Harden said it has not been determined what caused the initial pursuit. The incident is still under investigation by the Alabama State Troopers.

No law enforcement officers or other motorists were injured during the incident.