Jones County chase ends in Macon with crash into Shurling Drive pole

A New York man, who was headed south in the northbound lanes of Ga. 49, crashed into a Shurling Drive utility pole Monday morning while fleeing Jones County deputies.

Frank M. Wegman, 46, was behind the wheel of a rented black Hyundai sedan when Jones County deputies spotted him near Joycliff Road, said Capt. James Clark of the Jones County Sheriff’s Office.

“He’s running because he does not have a license,” Clark said.

Wegman initially stopped behind a title pawn business, but when the deputy got out of his vehicle, Wegman drove off.

About three miles away, as traffic slowed near King-Danforth Elementary and Appling Middle School in east Macon, Wegman tried to skirt cars and hit the pole near the overhead crosswalk.

After the 7:45 a.m. accident, Wegman, who apparently was not hurt, was resting with his head against the window in the back seat of a Jones County sheriff’s office SUV.

“I did something stupid,” he told The Telegraph. “We all make mistakes.”

Clark said Wegman faces charges in both Jones and Bibb counties.

He commended deputies for quickly getting him off the street without anyone getting hurt.

“You don’t know what’s wrong with him, is he intoxicated or whatever, so we had to stop that vehicle for the public’s safety,” Clark said.

The right lane of Shurling Drive was blocked for about 45 minutes before the car was hauled off.

This story was originally published August 24, 2015 at 9:29 AM with the headline "Jones County chase ends in Macon with crash into Shurling Drive pole ."