High speed chase in Columbus ends with suspect jumping off bridge into Big Walnut Creek
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Franklin County Sheriff's deputies have arrested one man after a high speed chase through Columbus ended with the suspect jumping off a bridge in the southeast side of the city.
According to deputies at the scene, a sheriff spotted what appeared to be a reported stolen Jeep Compass near Huy Road Park, in North Linden. At around 3:45 a.m., the sheriff attempted to pull the vehicle over.
The driver sped away and a pursuit began. Authorities said the vehicle reached up to 100 MPH on Columbus interstates with the driver eventually heading south on South Hamilton Road, past Interstate 270 and Refugee Road.
The vehicle pursuit stopped on a bridge over Big Walnut Creek when the driver got out of the car and jumped off the bridge and into the water.
A man suspected of stealing a Jeep Compass is pulled out of Big Walnut Creek after he allegedly jumped off a bridge on South Hamilton Road, May 7, 2024 (NBC4/Ronald Clark) 
A man suspected of stealing a Jeep Compass is pulled out of Big Walnut Creek after he allegedly jumped off a bridge on South Hamilton Road, May 7, 2024 (NBC4/Ronald Clark)
The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office called the Columbus Division of Police and the Columbus Fire Water and Rescue crews for assistance to locate the suspect. About 30 minutes later the man surfaced and he was helped out of the creek.
Medics treated the suspect at the scene, and he is now in custody. Police have not released the suspects name or if anyone else was injured during the pursuit, which covered approximately 15 miles.
South Hamilton Road in the area was closed for two or three hours until around 7 a.m.