Joshua Burton

By Zak Failla From Daily Voice

It started with an illegal U-turn — and ended in a wreck after a high-speed chase through traffic in Virginia.

Stafford native Joshua Burton, 30, is behind bars after deputies say he took off from a traffic stop, blasted past 80 mph, ran a red light, and slammed into two other vehicles before being taken into custody near I-95.

The chase began on Wednesday, Dec. 10, along Warrenton Road in Stafford, when a deputy spotted a vehicle blocking traffic while attempting an illegal U-turn, according to the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office.

As the deputy slowly approached, giving the driver a chance to correct the move, the vehicle completed the illegal turn anyway, officials said. 

When the emergency lights came on, Burton took off.

Instead, police said the vehicle accelerated, weaving between cars and refusing to pull over, kicking off a pursuit that quickly turned dangerous.

“Speeds were in excess of 80 mph along northbound Warrenton Road, a posted 45 mph zone,” the sheriff’s office said.

Deputies said Burton ran a red light while making another illegal U-turn before crashing into two other vehicles near the I-95 northbound on-ramp. 

The chase ended there.

Burton was detained at the scene, authorities said. Despite the violent crash and extreme speeds, no injuries were reported.

Burton was charged with:

  • Eluding;
  • Driving with a suspended license;
  • Illegal U-turn;
  • Driving an unregistered vehicle;
  • No insurance.

He was held without bond, according to the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office.