Domestic incident leads to police chase in West Virginia, Louisa

By Lilly Adkins

BSN Associate Editor

LOUISA — A domestic incident Tuesday, March 9, led to a police pursuit that began in West Virginia, continued in Kentucky and ended back in the Mountain State when the driver’s vehicle caught fire.

Maynard Hay, 70, of Huntington, W.Va., is charged with fleeing in a vehicle, fleeing on foot, obstructing, domestic battery and domestic assault.

Louisa Police Chief Greg Fugitt said in a release that the Louisa Police Department was requested March 9 by the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office to assist in a pursuit that was coming across state lines into Kentucky from West Virginia.

“During the pursuit, Patrolman Michael Housinger and Lawrence County Deputy Chase Kirk attempted to stop the vehicle when the subject swerved left, striking Housinger’s vehicle and pushing it against the guardrail,” Fugitt said in the release.

The vehicle, driven by Hay, “had spun sideways after this contact,” the release said.

A Louisa police cruiser was damaged when it was hit by a vehicle driven by Maynard Hay, 70, of Huntington during a two-state police pursuit Tuesday, March 9. BSN photo/Brenda Hardwick

“Both officers began approaching the vehicle when the suspect put the vehicle in reverse and hit Housinger’s vehicle once again, causing Housinger to dive over the guardrail to avoid being struck by the vehicle,” the release said. “Kirk continued with the pursuit along with West Virginia Officials.”

Wayne County Sheriff Rick Thompson said in a release issued just after the incident that deputies were responding to a domestic incident in the Prichard area when Hay left the scene.

Deputies attempted to stop the vehicle, and Hay fled at a high rate of speed down Big Sandy River Road and then fled to Louisa, the release said.

“The Lawrence County Sheriff's Department and Louisa Police Department attempted to stop the vehicle. The suspect struck a Louisa Police cruiser and fled back to West Virginia,” Thompson’s release said. “The vehicle pursuit ended in the Prichard area when Hay’s vehicle caught on fire and he then fled on foot and was apprehended as he hid in a culvert.”

The Kenova, W.Va., Police Department also assisted in Hay’s apprehension.

Hay was lodged in the West Virginia Regional Jail on two separate surety/cash bonds, one in the amount of $20,000 and the other in the amount of $5,012.

Additional charges are pending in Kentucky.