HIGH SPEED CHASE IN GRIMES COUNTY LEADS TO CRASH

  

Reports of verbal threats turned into a high-speed chase that ended with a Grimes County Deputy being injured Monday.

The Grimes County Sheriff’s Office reports that Monday evening at 6:45, Deputies were dispatched to a residence in 7500 Block of County Road 232 within the Shiro Community. The Deputies were responding to reports that an individual had arrived at the residence and began making threats towards his estranged wife and after a few moments left the residence on a Yamaha Motorcycle.

While en route, a Sheriff's Deputy spotted the motorcycle on State Highway 30 near Tenaska west of Shiro and proceeded to turn around to purse the motorcycle. At that time the driver of the motorcycle proceeded to accelerate away from him rapidly.

The Deputy then observed the motorcycle turn onto FM 2562 and attempted to stop the vehicle by means of activating his overhead lights and sirens.  As a result, the driver proceeded to flee.

The pursuit continued throughout many Farm Market Roads and State Highways in northern Grimes County which at many points the driver proceeded to disregard the safety for himself and others by driving erratically at speeds exceeding 130 MPH.

A heavy rain also began to fall, causing the roads to become slick. The Deputy lost control of his vehicle as a result of hydroplaning and went off of the roadway, going airborne, overturning multiple times, striking a tree and then catching fire. The Deputy was able to climb out of the vehicle and get to safety.

The motorcycle was located approximately one mile north of the accident scene by DPS Troopers and subsequently the driver was taken into custody.

Steven Benefield, 34 of Shiro, was later booked into the Grimes County Jail and was charged with Evading Arrest with a Vehicle causing Serious Bodily Injury.  Benefield remains incarcerated in the Grimes County Jail with bond set at $50,000.

As a result of this incident, Sheriff's Deputy Reed Edelman sustained injuries that included fractures to his vertebrae. Deputy Edelman was released today (Tuesday) from the Scott & White Hospital in College Station as is recovering at home.