High-speed chase on Interstate 79 spans 3 counties, including Butler
A woman was charged after a high-speed chase on Interstate 79 through three counties, including Butler, on Thanksgiving Day, according to state police.
Britney Goodwine, 32, of Pittsburgh, failed to yield to a traffic stop initiated by state police on the highway, and was suspected to be driving under the influence, documents showed. Police said the high-speed pursuit ensued for over 45 miles, ending in Wexford.
Goodwine was charged with felonies drug sales, use and possession of drug paraphernalia and fleeing police and misdemeanors DUI, criminal mischief, use and possession of drug paraphernalia and several traffic citations, according to charging documents filed in Mercer County.
Troopers said they attempted to stop Goodwine’s Hyundai Santa Fe for a traffic violation around 5:21 p.m. on Nov. 23. Goodwine’s vehicle slowed down to an almost complete stop near mile marker 118 in Mercer County, then sped off. Documents showed she did not yield to lights and sirens, and reached 130 mph in a 70 mph zone.
State police from the Butler barracks were asked to respond as the pursuit entered Butler County, successfully deploying tire-deflation devices south of Exit 99 on the interstate, documents showed. Goodwine continued traveling south driving on the vehicle’s rims, police said.
Police said Goodwine’s vehicle got off the interstate at Exit 73, Wexford, and was disabled. Charging documents claim that Goodwine failed to place the vehicle in park as she exited it, and it hit a police vehicle.
Suspected crack cocaine was found in Goodwine’s vehicle, along with heroin, Buprenorphine, Alprazolam and 26 grams of marijuana, police said.
Goodwine disclosed she had smoked crack “15 minutes ago” when speaking with troopers, and documents showed she displayed numerous signs of impairment.
Documents showed Goodwine was taken into custody and transported to Mercer County Jail, where she was placed in lieu of $25,000.
Her preliminary hearing is scheduled Dec. 7 in Mercer County. No charges have been filed against Goodwine by Butler County law enforcement.