Starke man arrested after chase and crash

Starke man arrested after chase and crash

Eric Smith of Starke was arrested Friday morning after a chase by Florida Highway Patrol officers attempting a traffic stop.

Smith, 37, was arrested for driving with a suspended license, reckless driving and driving without a seat belt.

Reports indicate two Bradford County detectives in an unmarked vehicle saw Smith's Chevy S10 pickup stopped in the middle of the street. When they approached, Smith sped away and crashed his truck into a ditch while trying to drive around a metal gate at the end of NW 29th Avenue.

Smith crawled out of the truck window, but was caught and arrested after a brief foot chase.