A tragic incident unfolded on Interstate 77 this past Thursday afternoon when a man, later identified as 20-year-old Dashawn Sanchez Samuels, died following a high-speed chase with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. According to reports by WSOC-TV, the pursuit began around 2 p.m. after troopers attempted to stop a blue car in Iredell County for not responding to emergency lights and sirens.

The chase, which spanned multiple counties, proceeded northward on I-77 into Surry County, where the vehicle in question was involved in a crash near mile marker 85, "The vehicle did not stop for emergency lights and sirens, and a chase began," according to a separate report by myfox8.com. Attempts to communicate with the driver were initially unsuccessful, and upon finally approaching the car, troopers discovered Samuels deceased with an apparent gunshot wound.

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol's Collision Reconstruction Unit is conducting an investigation with assistance from the Surry County Sheriff’s Office. The authorities were led on the pursuit after learning that the vehicle involved had been reported stolen, adding another layer to the tragic circumstances of the event.

As the investigation continues, "The State Highway Patrol’s Collision Reconstruction Unit and the Surry County Sheriff’s Office are investigating," as reported by WXII 12. The community awaits answers on the events that transpired leading up to the collision and fatal shooting, questions to which the combined efforts of these agencies seek to provide clarity. Meanwhile, the incident has left behind a sobering reminder of the somber unpredictability that can emerge on our roadways.