A man wanted on a felony parole violation warrant led Oklahoma Highway Patrol officers on a high-speed chase that ended when he crashed into two cars at the intersection of Lexington and Rogers avenues in Fort Smith at 7:25 p.m. Saturday night.
Fort Smith police said they arrested Joseph Bright, 42, at approximately 9 p.m. and took him to Sebastian County Jail. Bright, of Tulsa, faces a felony charge of leaving the scene of a personal-injury accident and several traffic violations, and will also face charges in Oklahoma, police said.
Oklahoma officers tried to pull over Bright, who was driving a black Chevrolet pickup, for reckless driving just east of Roland. Bright instead drove at high speeds toward Fort Smith.
The car chase ended when the pickup crashed into a traffic signal pole and then two cars, including a light-colored Pontiac. The pickup ended up lined up next to the Pontiac, which was wedged against a pole.
The female driver of the Pontiac was taken to the hospital with minor injuries, police said. Bright, wearing a red hoodie, took off running south on Lexington.
Police got a report he was at Walgreens at 2701 Rogers Ave., and an officer arrested him there without incident. For Smith police said they did not know Bright's previous conviction nor what his parole violation was.