The Bartow County Sheriff’s Office has released more information about the vehicle chase that landed two people in the hospital Saturday.
A deputy was en route to a reported physical domestic dispute at around 11:05 Saturday morning when a red 2013 Kia Forte going south on Burnt Hickory Road sped up suddenly, went through the red light at Sugar Valley Road, and started passing vehicles across the double yellow lines into oncoming traffic trying to elude the deputy.
The car drove through the BP parking lot and went west on Mission Road. At one point it appeared that the driver wanted to stop after being stuck behind a vehicle, but the passenger yelled at her and the car sped away once the vehicle in front moved.
The car continued on Mission Road as it looped north and went into Sugar Valley Road eastbound. When nearing Cassville Road, the car struck a concrete curb, traveled up an embankment, vaulted over railroad tracks, and wrecked into a scrap metal business on 318 Cassville Road.
A witness saw the passenger throw a black backpack out of the window. That backpack contained a lot of marijuana and hash oil.
Fire personnel extricated the driver, Briauna Carrie Persiani. She was flown to Grady Hospital. We have not received an update on her condition.
An ambulance transported the passenger, 18-year-old Luke Kye Layton of Cartersville, to Cartersville Medical Center for treatment. Deputies booked him into the Bartow County Jail later that day.
For the moment, the BCSO is charging both Persiani and Layton with possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance in schedule one, and felony fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer.