Stafford County sheriff's deputies chase wanted person into Spotsylvania County.

Date published: 7/14/2006

By BILL FREEHLING

A Richmond man is accused of running red lights and going nearly 100 mph during an 18-mile chase on U.S. 1 that ended Wednesday in Spotsylvania County.

The pursuit ended when the suspect's rental car flipped onto its side near the Interstate 95 interchange on U.S. 1 in Spotsylvania County. The driver faces two counts of attempted capital murder and other charges.

Stafford County sheriff's Deputy M.R. Conklin was on patrol Wednesday night when he got a call about a person eluding Prince William County police, said Stafford sheriff's Maj. David Decatur.

The Kia Spectra crossed into Stafford about 11:50 p.m., and Conklin followed him on U.S. 1. Other deputies joined in the chase and flashed their emergency lights, Decatur said.

The car continued to speed down U.S. 1, running red lights and swerving through traffic. The driver is accused of trying to ram the patrol cars of Stafford sheriff's 1st Sgt. R.M. Pangretic and Deputy C.V. Russo.

The Kia went through Fredericksburg and into Spotsylvania, Decatur said. It was going close to 100 mph when it entered the Four-Mile Fork area. It then swerved to the right, overcorrected, fishtailed into the northbound lanes and rolled onto its side.

The driver had to be cut out of the car. Decatur said the driver told deputies to leave him there and let him die. The driver had numerous cut marks on his arms that were apparently self-inflicted, and a hatchet was found inside the car.

The driver, 28-year-old Richmond man Zhyeff Alexander Corban, was taken to Mary Washington Hospital. His rental car was totaled, but no other cars or people were harmed during the 14-minute pursuit.

Corban was charged with two counts of attempted capital murder, felony eluding, reckless driving and driving under the influence of alcohol, Decatur said. He was placed under the custody of Rappahannock Regional Jail officials at the hospital.

To reach BILL FREEHLING: 540/374-5424
Email: bfreehling@freelancestar.com

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Date published: 7/14/2006