A 19-year-old Covington County resident led police on a high speed chase from East Cummings Avenue nearly to Kinston on Wednesday.

Opp Police Chief Mike McDonald said that around 9:30 p.m., an OPD officer was conducting security checks in downtown Opp when he observed a Jeep Cherokee proceeding southbound on East Cummings Avenue at a high rate of speed.

“The officers attempted to stop the vehicle and the vehicle operator fled eastbound on state highway 52,” McDonald said. “The officer continued the pursuit and the Jeep Cherokee began to turn its lights off an don until it left the roadway and rolled at a location just west of the Kinston City Limits.”

McDonald said the driver, Walter Ward, fled from the vehicle on foot into the woods and was apprehended by officers a short time later.

He was charged with two counts of reckless endangerment and fleeing/attempting to elude a law enforcement officer.

The passengers in the Jeep Cherokee, a 20-year-old, male resident of Red Level and a 22-year-old of age male resident of Luverne were detained by officers and then released.

There were no injuries from the crash.

Kinston police, Coffee County Sheriff’s Department, and the Kinston Fire Department responded to thwe scene.

ALEA Troopers investigated the traffic crash.