A man has died after fleeing from Newton Police in a motor vehicle early this morning. Officers confirm the victim of the crash as Kyle Alan Wagner of Charlotte.
Shortly after 1 a.m., a Newton Police Officer attempted to stop a blue 2014 Kia Forte on the 1,900 block of U.S. Highway 321 (Business) South. Wagner pulled to the right side of the roadway and stopped. As the Officer prepared to exit the patrol car Wagner sped off, traveling south on Highway 321 Business at a high rate of speed.
The Officer pursued the vehicle, which continued through the Maiden and into Lincolnton where Mr. Wagner continued at a high rate of speed on North Aspen Street, near Deaton Avenue. He lost control of the vehicle, ran off the right side of the road, and collided with the concrete bridge guardrail. Upon impact, the vehicle caught fire.
Wagner was removed from the vehicle by the Officers on the scene who rendered medical until Lincoln County E.M.S. and the Lincolnton Fire Department arrived. Wagner passed away en route to the hospital.
Newton Police were assisted by Maiden Police, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Lincolnton Police, the Lincolnton Fire Department, Lincoln County E.M.S., and the Lincoln County Medical Examiners Office. The ongoing investigation is led by the Lincolnton and Newton Police Departments.
Ralph Mangum of WHKY contributed to this story