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A Virginia State Police trooper was injured Tuesday night after a traffic stop attempt escalated into a vehicle pursuit, a crash and a foot chase across Interstate 495. The suspect was later arrested at a Metro station in Washington, D.C.
The incident began shortly after 9 p.m. when a trooper attempted to stop a black Chrysler 300 with expired tags on southbound I-495 at the Springfield interchange, commonly known as the mixing bowl.
Several police cruisers followed the Chrysler as its driver, identified by police as 57-year-old Gregory Newton of Springfield, continued onto the Capital Beltway’s eastbound lanes.
Authorities said Newton rear-ended a tractor-trailer east of Telegraph Road, left the Chrysler and ran across every lane of the interstate toward the City of Alexandria.
The trooper who had initiated the traffic stop followed Newton on foot and was struck by a passing vehicle. The trooper was taken to a nearby hospital and is recovering, according to state police.
Police said Newton entered the Eisenhower Avenue Metro station and boarded a train without paying. Using Metro surveillance cameras, officers tracked him to L’Enfant Plaza station in D.C.
Newton struggled with Metro Transit Police during his arrest, authorities said. He faces charges including assault on a police officer, eluding, hit-and-run, possession of a controlled substance and driving with a suspended license.