The driver who led Hancock police on a chase down I-70 and across the Hancock bridge in April has been extradited to West Virginia to face charges there.
Christopher McCauley, 23, of Berkeley Springs was charged on Thursday, August 16 in Morgan County Magistrate Court with leaving the scene of an accident with property damage, failure to report an accident, driving on a suspended license, no insurance, improper registration and reckless driving.
Cpl. S. Smith of the West Virginia State Police issued arrest warrants in April for McCauley after responding on April 13 to a crash on the West Virginia side of the Hancock bridge.
McCauley had been fleeing from police on the bridge and tried to turn onto River Road when his Ford Mustang struck the back of an SUV, leaving it heavily damaged.
McCauley fled the scene and multiple police looked for his vehicle in the area.
The license plate and bumper of the Mustang were recovered on Jim West Road by Officer Cook of the Hancock police department. On April 14, two officers with the Morgan County Sheriff’s Department located the Mustang on Harmison Camp Road. In it, they allegedly located McCauley’s wallet and an ID for his passenger, along with two bottles of prescription pills.
McCauley was picked up in Frederick County, Md. on May 10 and held for driving while his license was revoked. On August 14, McCauley was charged in Washington County District Court for being a fugitive from justice from West Virginia.
He is being held at the Eastern Regional Jail in lieu of $7,500 bail.
