MAGOFFIN/FLOYD/PIKE – A three-county police chase began in Salyersville and ended in arrest in Pike County, with a large quantity of illegal drugs seized, though the man involved has now also fled from the hospital, as well.
According to local police reports, Salyersville Police Department Officer Mike Nickels observed a vehicle swerving on the roadway on the Restaurant Row portion of the Mountain Parkway. He followed the vehicle and noticed it continuing to fall off the roadway and swerve. As they were traveling east, Nickels turned on his police lights in front of the BP and the other vehicle started to speed up.
At the Burning Fork traffic light, the car continued through the red light, though Nickels had to slow down to miss a vehicle traveling through the intersection. During that exchange, Nickels lost sight of the vehicle and called Prestonsburg Police Department for more help.
Prestonsburg Police Department’s Patrolman Zach Neice and Detective Brad Caldwell responded to KY 114 and located the vehicle near the Mountain Arts Center and traveling toward Prestonsburg.
Neice attempted a traffic stop for reckless driving violations and the vehicle fled toward Pikeville on US 23, reportedly reaching speeds exceeding 100 miles-per-hour on the empty roadway at approximately 2:30 a.m. on May 1.
Once on US 23, Prestonsburg Police officers were assisted by Kentucky State Police troopers.
Police followed the vehicle as it turned at Green Meadows onto Kelsey E. Friend Boulevard toward Pike County Regional Airport. The vehicle continued through the top of the mountain cut-thru and made another turn toward Gulnare. After the second curve on the one-lane road, the vehicle ran off the roadway, colliding with the rockface.
Matthew McMahan, of Downtown Louisville, and his passenger, Ashley Wilson, also of Louisville, were removed from the vehicle and placed under arrest.
Police found approximately 16 grams of methamphetamine and $1,000 in cash in the vehicle. Wilson was arrested and transported to the Floyd County jail, where another 6 grams of methamphetamine and 2.5 grams of fentanyl was recovered from within a cavity of hers, the Prestonsburg Police Department reported.
McMahan has over 30 criminal cases in his rap-sheet, spanning all over the state, according to PPD. He was admitted to Highlands ARH for injuries sustained in the collision and was pending admission to the Floyd County Detention Center, when at approximately 8:30 Tuesday night he reportedly fled from the hospital.
McMahan walked away from Highlands ARH and was picked up by a vehicle, described as an older Chevrolet Trail Blazer that is dark, possibly green, in color and has black wheels with silver center caps, tinted windows and possibly a Friends of Coal license plate. Police stated they have no reason to believe he is a threat as he will probably require medical treatment. Please call 911 or 886-1010 if you see this vehicle or McMahan.
McMahan is facing the following charges, currently: trafficking methamphetamine, greater than two grams; tampering with physical evidence; four counts of wanton endangerment; fleeing or evading police, 1st degree; persistent felony offender 1; speeding; operating on a suspended license; DUI; no insurance; possession of drug paraphernalia.
Wilson was lodged in the Floyd County Detention Center on charges of trafficking methamphetamine; trafficking fentanyl derivatives or carfentanil; promoting contraband; tampering with physical evidence; possession of drug paraphernalia.
This case remains under investigation by Ptl. Z. Neice.
Editor’s Note: The indictment or charge of a person by a grand jury or otherwise is an accusation only and that person is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
