Driver Charged in October Crash

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By Stefanie Jackson – Charges have been filed against Christopher Northcraft, 34, who led law enforcement officers on a high-speed chase Oct. 19, which began in Maryland and ended on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel with a vehicle crash that left both Northcraft and his female passenger, Brandy Bowman, 35, with major injuries that were not life-threatening.

Northcraft is charged with the abduction, malicious assault, and attempted murder of Bowman, who was trapped in the vehicle after it crashed.

He is also charged with one count of possession of a Schedule 4 narcotic, two counts of possession of a Schedule 1 narcotic, and driving under the influence of drugs.

According to an Oct. 19 report by the Virginia State Police, Northcraft exited the crashed Toyota Camry through the broken rear window and tried to get Bowman out before attempting to flee the scene, but he went over a guardrail and fell to the ground approximately 30 feet below the road.

The high-speed chase, which reached speeds in excess of 120 mph, had been initiated by Maryland State Police and the Pocomoke Police Department. Both Northcraft and Bowman had warrants on file in Maryland for their arrests.

The chase continued to the bridge-tunnel, and as the Toyota Camry approached the CBBT’s North Channel high rise, the vehicle struck a curb, spun out of control, flipped, and landed on its roof.

Neither Northcraft nor Bowman was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.

Northcraft was combative with rescue personnel while he was flown to Norfolk General Hospital. On the morning he was to be discharged, Oct. 22, he barricaded himself in his hospital room and unsuccessfully attempted to open or break a window to escape police custody. He was transported to Eastern Shore Regional Jail that day.

Virginia State Police reported Dec. 13 that Bowman is “still hospitalized.”

Northcraft is currently in Virginia Beach City Jail.

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