Dashboard video of wild chase in Vero Beach

Dashboard video of wild chase in Vero Beach

High-speed chase

Maria Roberts, reckless driving suspect

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Posted: 10/10/2009

VERO BEACH, FL -- When deputies first spotted Maria Roberts' white van pulling off the interstate in Vero Beach, they already had reports she'd driven the wrong way on the interstate at speeds topping 110 mph.

In video captured by the deputies' dashboard cameras, Roberts tries to elude them several times, even crashing into a deputy's squad car at one point as she executes a u-turn on SR-60.

The video shows Roberts speeding along the interstate with multiple deputies following her.  At one point it shows her driving north in the southbound lanes of I-95, weaving through traffic.

Deputies laid long black strips along the road called stop sticks.  They're equipped with sharp nail-like devices to puncture tires.

The strategy worked.  The video shows one of the sticks catching the white van's rear wheel, causing the driver to spin out of control and into a guardrail.

Deputies quickly order Roberts to the ground in the video.  They approach her with a K-9.  Sheriff's spokesperson Jeff Luther says deputies had to use a Taser on Roberts because she was not responding to their commands.

Upon her arrest, Roberts identified herself as "Zion Christ."  Deputies learned she's a resident of Flushing, New York.

They also recovered a 7-year old girl in the backseat of the van.  They suspect the girl is a relative of the driver.  She was shaken up, but unharmed.  She's now in the custody of the Department of Children and Families.

Copyright 2009 The E.W. Scripps Co. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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