Man Charged After 25 Mile Slow Speed Pursuit Covers Two Counties

It failed to have the drama of the legendary OJ Simpson slow-speed pursuit on Los Angeles freeways but a Florida man has been charged as a result similar motor vehicle pursuit that began on U.S. 421 east of Boone and ended in Wilkesboro.

Matthew David Adubato, 42, of Boynton Beach, Florida is charged with felony flee to elude arrest with a motor vehicle by the Watauga and Wilkes Sheriff’s Offices. A N.C. Highway Patrol spokesman said that agency charged Adubato with driving while impaired. He also is charged with failure to heed lights and siren.

According to a Watauga Sheriff’s Office press release, a Watauga Deputy tried to stop an Infiniti that was westbound on U.S. 421 near the North Pine Run Road on the afternoon of March 18 as a result of the car being driven erratically and going about 35 mph in a 55 mph zone.

The release said the driver, identified as Adubato, failed to yield, switched lanes, made a U-turn and proceeded eastbound toward Deep Gap on U.S. 421. Suspecting impairment based on the driver’s behavior, the Deputy activated emergency lights and sirens and the Infiniti continued traveling toward Deep Gap without stopping.

The Highway Patrol deployed spike strips on U.S. 421 near Orchard Road east of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Watauga County but the driver avoided them by changing lanes. The pursuit continued into Wilkes County at speeds of about 35 MPH, with the driver successfully evading two additional spike strip deployments.

The release said that about three miles into Wilkes, Wilkes County Law Enforcement assumed control of the pursuit.

Spike strips deployed by Wilkesboro Police near the former Dodge House restaurant punctured tires on the Infiniti, but it continued eastward until coming to a stop at the intersection of U.S. 421 and Dancy Road in front of Lowe’s Home Improvement.

Adubato was taken into custody without incident.