‘That doesn’t happen here’: Witnesses recall high-speed chase involving box truck in Columbia

COLUMBIA, Tenn. (WKRN) — A driver in a box truck led Maury County deputies on a high-speed chase through Columbia Tuesday.

It was a scene resident Coty Svehlak said he had never seen before in his hometown.

“I’ve grown up here, so that’s brand-new to me,” Svehlak told News 2. “That doesn’t happen here.”

A driver in a possibly stolen box truck blew through Maury County streets, with witness Juana Del Mayo telling News 2 she saw the truck going about 70 miles per hour on a road with a 40 mile-per-hour speed limit.

“They got caught because where they started from is where they actually stopped them at, which was right by the Sheriff’s Department, which is where they, initially, were coming from,” Del Mayo said.

Witnesses said the whole chase lasted about 40 minutes.

“He avoided the spike strips then went down into that next turn off of 7 onto Industrial and I’m assuming they boxed him in because there’s a cop car that’s totaled sitting there on the corner as well,” Svehlak added.

They said it was common for box trucks to deliver packages to their homes during the holidays.

“I don’t know how it began, but for choices of vehicles, I don’t think he made a very bright decision there,” Svehlak said.

Witnesses added the stolen truck appeared to have video gaming equipment inside. News 2 reached out to the Maury County Sheriff’s Office for more information, but as of publication, there has been no response.