Macon teen wrecks car in I-75 chase with Bibb deputies

A Macon 17-year-old turned himself in to authorities Tuesday afternoon after leading Bibb County deputies on a car chase earlier in the day.

Just before 10 a.m. Tuesday, deputies were called to Kevin’s Check Cashing at 3989 Pio Nono Ave. to investigate a forgery, said Lt. Randy Gonzalez, a public information officer with the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office.

The suspect ran from the business at some point, but the owner lost sight of him a few blocks away. Deputies searched the area, but they couldn’t find the suspect, according to a news release.

The suspect left his identification behind at the business. Deputies went to his address and spotted a 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier leaving quickly.

The car’s driver, who authorities initially thought was the forgery suspect, led deputies on a chase that ended on Interstate 75 North when the car wrecked near the Walnut Street overpass, just south of the Interstate 16 split. The car spun out, hitting the median and two patrol cars, according to the release.

The driver ran and deputies chased him toward Linwood Cemetery on Walnut Street in the Pleasant Hill neighborhood, but he got away.

A man was treated at the scene for injuries, and a small child was taken to the Medical Center, Navicent Health, following the accident, according to the release. One Bibb County deputy was injured in the foot chase.

Traffic was stopped along I-75 North from the Hardeman Avenue southward as officers investigated the accident and chased the suspect.

Elijah Simmons, 17, of Macon, later was determined to be the driver of the car, and he turned himself in to authorities, according to the release.

Simmons was arrested and charged with fleeing and attempting to elude a law enforcement officer, aggressive driving and cruelty to children, according to a later release. Simmons has a bond of $10,400.

It’s not clear why he refused to stop for deputies. He wasn’t involved in the incident at the check cashing business, according to the sheriff’s office.

Simmons was being interviewed late Tuesday afternoon.

Writer Amy Leigh Womack contributed to this report. To contact writer Liz Fabian, call 744-4303 and follow her on Twitter@liz_lines.

This story was originally published October 13, 2015 at 5:58 PM with the headline "Macon teen wrecks car in I-75 chase with Bibb deputies ."