Carnesville Man Arrested After High-Speed Chase Tuesday Night

A Carnesville man is behind bars after leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase Tuesday evening.

According to Trooper Sgt Ray Dean with the Georgia State Patrol Hartwell Post 52, it happened Tuesday evening just before 10p when Hart County Sheriff’s deputies requested the help of Troopers to stop a 2006 black VW Jetta on Lankford Road near Ridgeview Road in Hart County.

Dean said Troopers were advised that deputies were chasing the Jetta into Franklin County.

After two unsuccessful attempts to end the pursuit by Hart County Deputies, Dean said the driver of the Jetta deliberately struck the front of a Trooper’s vehicle with the front of his vehicle.

The pursuit then continued through the city limits of Lavonia with the suspect driving recklessly.

Sgt. Dean tells WLHR News that while attempting to turn left onto East Main Street in Lavonia from Grogan Street, the suspect lost control and the Jetta hit a set of concrete stairs.

After that impact, the Volkswagen traveled across East Main Street on its driver’s side wheels, and as the driver regained control a Trooper conducted a successful PIT maneuver pinning the Volkswagen against a brick wall.

Post 52 Troopers and Hart County Deputies subsequently placed the suspect under arrest without further incident.

He is identified as 34-year-old Robert Lee Smith of Carnesville.

Smith is facing multiple traffic charges including felony fleeing, reckless driving, and driving under the influence.

At the time of the chase and Smith’s arrest, he was also wanted on unrelated charges out of Franklin County.