Chase Ends in Arrest, Damage to Power Pole and House

A high-speed chase overnight Tuesday through Lavonia leads to the arrest of a Royston man, and damage to a power pole and a house.

According to Lavonia Police Chief Bruce Carlisle, it happened about 2a Tuesday morning after Franklin County Sheriff’s office reported word of a motorists driving erratically down SR59.

“Lavonia Police officers received a lookout about a driver that was possibly intoxicated and was operating a motor vehicle,” Carlisle said. “One of the officers located the vehicle on Vickery St. and realized there was an issue with one of the headlights.”

Carlisle said the officer turned around and attempted to pull over the vehicle when a chase ensued into Lavonia.  Carlisle said the driver lost control of the vehicle near the Rainbow Drive intersection.

“The driver traveled a short distance before striking a power pole and breaking it off. He then proceeded onto the yard of a residence and struck the front of the residence,” Carlisle said. 

The suspect took out the front porch of that house, which was across the street from the power pole, and ripped off siding.

A relative of the homeowner told WLHR News the impact also caused drywall and plaster inside the house to crumble.  He said the homeowner was away on vacation and was not home at the time of the crash.

Meantime, the suspect then fled on foot but was later spotted on Bowman St. in Lavonia by Franklin County Sheriff’s deputies and arrested.

He is identified as 51-year old Zachary Childers of 237 Turner St. in Royston.  Carlisle says Childers faces multiple charges, including driving under the influence, failure to report an accident, failure to notify an owner upon striking an object, fleeing and attempting to elude, too fast for conditions and driving with a suspended license.  Carlisle said some of those charges could be upgraded to felonies and he said the investigation is continuing.