WALTON COUNTY, Fla. – Early this morning Walton County Sheriff’s Deputy William May was driving from Freeport to DeFuniak Springs when he says he was nearly struck head-on by a vehicle traveling in the wrong direction in the northbound lanes.
May got behind the vehicle to make a traffic stop, but the driver did not stop, traveling at more than 70 miles per hour, the Walton County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release.
Deputies attempted to close intersections quickly to try and stop the car before the Clyde B. Wells Bridge. Still, the driver reportedly continued, nearly hitting multiple vehicles, including those of deputies.
Once across the bridge deputies successfully spiked the vehicle and a pursuit intervention technique maneuver was done forcing the car onto the shoulder, the WCSO said.
There was minimal damage to the patrol vehicle and there are no injuries to the deputy or the driver, who the WCSO identified as Matthew Kirchner, 42, of Miramar Beach.
Kirchner was arrested for driving under the influence, the WCSO said.
