Full Notification

Deputy Jason Cook of the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office charged Edgar Robert Acuna Torres, 45, of 611 Green St. Loop in Marion, with fleeing to elude arrest, hit and run, no operator’s license and possession of drug paraphernalia.
At approximately 1:10 a.m. on Thursday, July 12, Cook was driving on the five-lane, when he observed an older model red truck back from Peachtree Street onto the five-lane. After the suspect vehicle drove onto several side roads off the five-lane, Cook attempted to stop him at Peachtree and East Orchard streets.
The driver fled at a high rate of speed, with the deputy in pursuit, to the intersection of U.S. 70 and the five-lane, where he wrecked. He got back onto the road and continued through P.G. at a high rate of speed. At the intersection of U.S. 70 West and Forest Hill Drive, the truck hit the guardrail twice, flipped and traveled straight through a power pole while it was in the air. The vehicle burst into flames and landed in the creek below.
The driver, identified as Torres, got out of the automobile, and Cook helped him up the bank.
He was taken to Memorial Mission Hospital in Asheville, where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries and released.
Additional charges against Torres are pending.