Valdivia faces 10 felonies after 130 mph chase

Devin Valdivia, 25, was arrested on November 7 after leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase that ended with his vehicle hitting three police cars. Authorities in Iredell County, North Carolina, have charged him with 10 felonies. The charges include fleeing to elude arrest, assault on a law enforcement officer, and driving while impaired.

Police say the pursuit began Saturday night when officers responded to reports of a possibly impaired driver on Langtree Road. One officer attempted to pull Valdivia over, but he accelerated before veering into oncoming traffic. Court documents state he reached speeds of up to 130 mph during the flight.

Valdivia struck a Mooresville police car before heading south on Interstate 77. He exited at Sam Furr Road, where his vehicle collided with a second patrol car. After the impact, he continued driving into oncoming traffic according to police reports.

He returned to I-77 and took Exit 28. A short time later, his car crashed into a third police vehicle. Records indicate he was driving 100 mph in a 65-mph zone on the interstate and failed to maintain lane control. One officer sustained a fractured hand bone during the collision.

Valdivia eventually jumped from his vehicle and ran on foot until officers caught him. His arrest records show prior convictions in Lincoln County for assault on a government official and attempted fleeing to elude arrest. He also has a prior driving while impaired conviction in Gaston County.