NC Woman Hits 115-MPH, Rams Police Car During Multi-County Chase
21-year-old Aviana Ortiz faces 14 charges after high-speed pursuit across Johnston and Wayne counties
JOHNSTON COUNTY, NC – A 21-year-old woman is facing a long list of charges after a dangerous multi-county, high-speed chase in Eastern North Carolina that ended with her ramming a police vehicle, injuring motorists, and refusing to comply with law enforcement commands.
The incident began around 9:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 25, when a North Carolina State Highway Patrol trooper clocked Aviana Yomariz Ortiz going 100 mph in a 55 mph zone on U.S. 70 in Johnston County.
When the trooper attempted to stop her, Ortiz sped off, initiating a chase that would span Johnston and Wayne counties, hitting speeds of 115 mph on I-42. Along the way, she forced a motorcycle off the road, caused a vehicle to overturn, and allegedly threw objects at patrol cars, damaging at least one.
According to Trooper E.L. Jillette, the pursuit ended near Lenoir County just before 9:20 p.m., after officers successfully executed a rolling roadblock. As troopers attempted to box her in, Ortiz reportedly rammed into a patrol vehicle, which triggered a second cruiser to collide into her vehicle from behind.
Even after the impact, Ortiz refused commands, and officers were forced to physically remove her from the car due to non-compliance.
Ortiz Now Faces the Following Charges in Johnston and Wayne Counties:
- Felony Flee to Elude Arrest
- Driving While Impaired (DWI)
- Failure to Heed Blue Lights and Sirens
- Aggressive Driving
- Resisting a Public Officer
- No Operator’s License
- Careless and Reckless Driving
- Improper Passing on the Left
- Failure to Maintain Lane Control
- Exceeding Posted Speed Limit
- Failure to Decrease Speed
- Hit and Run
- Injury to Personal Property
- Littering
Ortiz was booked into the Johnston County Jail, where she remains in custody on a $50,250 bond as of Monday morning.