Police arrested two men Friday night and transported them, along with six others, to a hospital for treatment after an SUV being pursued in connection with an armed robbery crashed into four other vehicles on Savannah’s southside.
Christopher Eugene Smith, 35, was charged with armed robbery and violation of parole and Keith Enmon Pendergraph, 37, was charged with being party to a crime and is being held for U.S. marshals on probation violation charges from South Carolina, said Julian Miller, Savannah-Chatham police spokesman. Both men convicted felons with extensive records, and each were transported to Memorial University Medical Center for complaints of injuries before being transported to the Chatham County jail, Miller said.
They were arrested by police after foot pursuits following a four-vehicle collision on Montgomery Crossroad at Varnedoe Road at the entrance of the Wal-Mart shopping center.
Six occupants of other vehicles in the collision were transported by medics to Memorial for treatment of injuries received, Miller said.
A gunman had jumped the counter at the Dollar General Store on the 11900 block of Apache Avenue about 7:15 p.m., taking a cash drawer and speeding away in a dark Chevrolet Trailblazer, Miller said.
Responding officers located the SUV on Montgomery Crossroad near Abercorn Street and attempted to stop it when it sped away with several patrol cars in pursuit.
The SUV ran a traffic light at Waters Avenue, striking the rear of a pickup and causing the front tire on the SUV to flatten, Miller said. The SUV, however, accelerated several more blocks before running another light and crashing into the three other vehicles, Miller said.
The driver and two other occupants of a white Infiniti that was exiting the parking lot when it was struck by the SUV were transported with serious injuries.
Three occupants of a black Nissan Altima that was stopped at the traffic light were transported with complaints of injuries.
The incidents are continuing to be investigated by metro’s violent crimes detectives and the Major Accident Investigation Team.