Commerce Man Charged After High-Speed Pursuit Ends in Five-Vehicle Crash in Hall County

HALL COUNTY, Ga. — A Commerce man is facing multiple felony and traffic-related charges after authorities say he led deputies on a high-speed pursuit that ended in a five-vehicle crash Tuesday evening in Hall County.

According to the Hall County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched shortly before 6 p.m. on June 9 to the Chattahoochee Baptist Association Building on McEver Road after witnesses reported a driver passed out behind the wheel of a running vehicle.

When a deputy arrived, he found 28-year-old Joey Levi Ledbetter of Commerce asleep inside the vehicle with the engine running, the transmission in drive and his foot on the brake pedal. Authorities said the deputy repeatedly knocked on the windows before waking Ledbetter and instructing him to place the vehicle in park.

Instead, investigators said Ledbetter accelerated away from the scene, prompting a pursuit southbound on McEver Road.

During the chase, authorities said Ledbetter briefly stopped in the left travel lane at Browns Bridge Road. As a deputy attempted to exit his patrol vehicle, Ledbetter allegedly steered left and struck the front bumper of the patrol car before running a red light and continuing southbound.

Investigators said Ledbetter drove recklessly throughout the pursuit, reaching speeds in excess of 90 mph while failing to maintain his lane, improperly passing vehicles and cutting off other motorists.

The pursuit ended at the intersection of McEver Road and Flat Creek Road when Ledbetter allegedly ran another red light and collided with a Toyota Avalon driven by 71-year-old Sharon Gaddy of Gainesville.

According to the Georgia State Patrol, Gaddy was traveling east on Flat Creek Road when her vehicle was struck on the rear driver’s side by Ledbetter’s Buick Verano. The impact caused the Avalon to rotate and strike a Tesla Model 3 driven by 54-year-old Blanca Escobar of Gainesville, which was stopped at the intersection.

Investigators said the force of the collision caused one of the Avalon’s tires to separate from the vehicle. The tire then struck a Ford Econoline driven by 53-year-old Calvin Akin of Elberton and a Chevrolet Bolt driven by 36-year-old Zachery Stern of Sugar Hill. Both vehicles were stopped at a traffic signal on northbound McEver Road.

Authorities said Ledbetter’s vehicle continued through the intersection before leaving the roadway and coming to rest on the west shoulder.

Ledbetter, Gaddy and a passenger in Gaddy’s vehicle suffered minor injuries and were transported to a local hospital for treatment. A passenger in the Chevrolet Bolt was not injured.

Following the crash, Ledbetter was arrested at the scene.

The Hall County Sheriff’s Office charged Ledbetter with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, fleeing and attempting to elude law enforcement, hit and run, obstruction, failure to obey a traffic control device, driving with a suspended license, failure to maintain lane, reckless driving and a tire condition violation.

The Georgia State Patrol also charged Ledbetter with driving under the influence and additional traffic offenses related to the pursuit and crash.

Ledbetter remains in the Hall County Jail without bond.