A suspended fraternity member at the University of Georgia led cops on a high-speed chase that he posted on Snapchat, saying he was “running from a cop” while topping 110 mph, police said.
Hunter Ty Wilkerson, 19, is facing more than 25 charges, including DUI and attempting to elude police, after the Thursday morning chase that began in Athens when Wilkerson allegedly stole five traffic signs from the university’s campus. Police started to follow the teen in a Ford F-150 after he was spotted driving a 90 mph in a 35-mph zone at about 3:30 a.m., WSB-TV reported.
“At that point in itself, he’s reckless,” said Epifanio Rodriguez, a spokesman for the Athens-Clarke County Police Department. “He’s putting lives in danger, to include his own and anyone else who’s on the roadway.”
Wilkerson blew past three red lights before losing control of his truck near a police station and driving off the road, crashing into several parked cars, WXIA reported.
Police said Wilkerson was “sending out updates” during the 10-minute, high-speed pursuit using Snapchat.
“An officer looks through his phone and sees he was active on social media, Snapchat, and was sending out updates saying that he was in pursuit with the police officer,” Rodriguez said.
Wilkerson, who had “bloodshot eyes” and “seemed to have slurred speech,” according to a police report, also alleged bragged that he was “running from a cop” in police body cam video, according to WXIA.
Wilkerson is a member of the university’s Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, but is currently under suspension, according to the station.
He was ordered held on $31,000 bond at the Athens-Clarke County Jail, but was no longer in custody as of early Monday, jail records show. It was unclear if he had hired an attorney.