Mar 13, 2015 2 min read

State police in both Pennsylvania and West Virginia plan to charge the West Virginia man accused of fleeing after crashing his vehicle Thursday afternoon following a pursuit by West Virginia state police on Interstate 70.

Police said Terry Watson, 27, of Moundsville, crashed his vehicle at the West Alexander exit ramp of I-70 in Donegal Township.

West Virginia state police said Cpl. E.M. McFarland tried to stop a man later identified as Watson for having an expired inspection and following another vehicle too closely just east of the Dallas Pike exit, about two miles east of the Pennsylvania state line, but the driver fled toward Pennsylvania.

McFarland pursued the car to the state line, where he discontinued the chase and requested assistance of Pennsylvania state police.

Police said Watson continued into Pennsylvania at a high speed, and when he tried to get off the highway at the West Alexander exit, he was unable to negotiate a curve and hit a guard rail.

Watson fled on foot, police said. Three passengers, Bradford Mease, 25, and Jessica Williamson, 26, also of Moundsville, along with their 2-year-old son, were taken to a West Virginia hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

Both law enforcement agencies searched the area for Watson immediately after the crash. Watson is white, about 6 feet tall, and was last seen wearing a blue jersey with yellow and white lettering.

Pennsylvania state police are continuing their investigation but plan to charge Watson with reckless endangerment.

West Virginia state police have obtained arrest warrants for Watson on charges of fleeing in a motor vehicle, child endangerment, driving with a suspended license, reckless driving and other traffic-related offenses.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call West Virginia state police at 304-843-4100.