By Star 102.5 Sandhills News | April 21, 2026 | Carthage, NC
Monday’s afternoon rush hour through Carthage was thrown into chaos when a motorcyclist refused to stop for police and led officers on a brief but dangerous high-speed chase before crashing into another vehicle on US Highway 15-501. One person is in custody, and charges are pending.
How It Started
According to the Sandhills Sentinel, the incident began around 4:45 p.m. Monday near the Hardee’s in Carthage, when a Carthage Police Department officer clocked a Kawasaki motorcycle speeding. When the officer attempted to stop the rider, the motorcyclist refused and fled southbound on US 15-501.
The Chase and the Crash
Radio traffic from the scene indicated the motorcycle reached speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour during the pursuit. Recognizing the danger to other drivers on a heavily traveled road during peak traffic hours, the Carthage officer decided to call off the chase — a decision that came just moments before the motorcycle collided with another vehicle at South McNeill Street.
Traffic on US 15-501 slowed significantly in the aftermath of the crash as law enforcement worked to secure the scene.
The Rider Fled on Foot — Briefly
After the crash, the rider abandoned the motorcycle and ran on foot across the highway, disappearing into a wooded area behind the Wok n Roll restaurant. The foot pursuit didn’t last long. Officers detained the suspect shortly after, and he was evaluated at the scene by EMS. He was released into law enforcement custody with multiple charges pending.
No Serious Injuries Reported
As of the Sentinel’s initial report, no serious injuries were reported in the collision. The full list of charges against the rider had not yet been publicly released.
Star 102.5 and Sandhills News will update this story as more information becomes available from the Carthage Police Department.
