South Carolina man arrested for attempted murder after causing series of crashes in Stafford

A South Carolina man is in jail this morning after allegedly causing a series of intentional crashes on U.S. Highway 1 in Stafford County last night before deputies responded to his vehicle to stop the rampage.

According to a news release, on July 1 at 6:05 p.m., Staff Sergeant D.W. Fetterolf of the Stafford County Sheriff's Office located the aftermath of a crash near the intersection of Richmond Highway and Coachman Circle. Staff Sergeant Bates arrived to assist and they learned that a southbound Subaru SUV had intentionally struck a southbound BMW motorcycle from behind.

The impact threw the motorcyclist onto the hood of the Subaru before he fell from the vehicle onto the sidewalk. The motorcyclist suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

The driver of the Subaru continued southbound from the crash scene. The suspect then intentionally and unprovokedly crashed into the passenger side of a Ford F-150 on the side of the road, pushing the truck into the guardrail. The driver of the F-150 was not injured.

Staff Sergeant MR Flick and Sergeant JD Hurt observed the Subaru as it passed on Courthouse Road and attempted to stop it. The suspect refused to stop and increased his speed to over 100 mph. The suspect passed several cars over double yellow lines, failed to stop for red lights and maintained a reckless speed. Officers attempted to use a tire deflation device at Centreport Parkway but were unsuccessful.

Hurt performed a precision stop maneuver near Enon Road. The Subaru made a 720-degree turn and then rolled over as it traveled up the grassy embankment. The suspect was unharmed and taken into custody.

The suspect has been identified as Rome Washington, 40, of Columbia, South Carolina. He has been charged with attempted murder, driving under the influence of alcohol, reckless driving, eluding, hit and run, attempted battery, vandalism, failure to keep proper direction of travel, traffic signal violation and driving while holding a cell phone.

He was being held without bail at the Rappahannock Regional Jail.