On Wednesday, Deputy Shane Henderson was notified by Dispatch that THP was in pursuit and heading into Cumberland County Westbound on Interstate 40 around the 345-mile marker. Henderson was sitting at the 322 Exit when he observed the same vehicle heading west at a high rate of speed.

Deputy Henderson activated his lights and sirens and began pursuing the vehicle, described as a white Hyundai four-door Sedan with a registration out of Arizona. Cumberland County Deputies were set up with spike strips in the area which the vehicle avoided. Henderson began pursuing the vehicle Westbound with speeds over 100mph.

The vehicle then got onto the shoulder passing other vehicles and then exited at the 317 exit, heading North on Highway 127 North. During the chase, the vehicle reached speeds over 110mph while driving in the opposite lane, in an area under road construction.

The vehicle almost hit a silver Toyota 4runner head which had children in it. The vehicle continued outbound 127 North with speeds still over 100mph. Dispatch said the driver was identified by THP as Matthew Schlief, wanted out of Pennsylvania for pending felony gun charges and violating probation by cutting off an ankle monitor.

While still pursuing the vehicle, the driver almost hit a worker doing traffic control for Clark Cable Company on 127 North. He barely made it out of the roadway as the driver continued outbound at a high rate of speed very recklessly. During the pursuit, the driver had run several vehicles out of the roadway.

While still heading outbound towards Fentress County the driver was approaching the intersection of Highway 127 North and Highway 62, which is when he tried to make a left-hand turn onto Highway 62 but was traveling too fast to make the turn, striking a light pole.

This is when Deputy Henderson exited his patrol car and gave commands for the driver to exit the vehicle. Instead, he went into reverse and rammed the front end of Cumberland County Deputy Brink’s patrol vehicle and continued outbound on 127 North into Fentress County.

This is when a Fentress County unit assisted in the chase. The driver continued outbound at speeds over 100mph with heavy vehicle damage from striking the light pole. He failed to negotiate a curve and wrecked into another vehicle causing disabling damage.

This is when the driver was removed from the vehicle and arrested by Fentress County Deputies. Fentress County advised they would have charges on Matthew and keep him in custody.

Deputy Henderson returned to Cumberland County Justice Center and wrote warrants on Schlief for four counts of reckless endangerment, Aggravated Assault on a first responder, and Felony evading.

A hold was sent to Fentress County for Schlief, and THP advised they would have additional charges as well.