By Shavonne Walker
shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — Two Rowan County deputies escaped injury in a Thursday morning crash after a chase with a speeding driver that began on Interstate 85.

The motorcyclist ran away after the crash and has not been found.

About 2 a.m. Thursday, Deputy P.N. Davis was on I-85 near Webb Road when he saw a blue and white motorcycle speeding in excess of 90 mph and weaving in and out of traffic.

Davis turned on his lights and siren near Peeler Road to pursue the motorcycle. Another deputy assisted in the chase as the motorcyclist reached a speed of 120 mph. As he neared the Innes Street exit, he took off his helmet and threw it at the pursuing deputies.

Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Andrew Rowland was trying to get in position ahead of the chase to help stop the motorcycle. Rowland was on U.S. 52 from Rockwell and overshot his planned turn onto Dunn’s Mountain Church Road.

Rowland pulled to the right and tried a U-turn on U.S. 52. His patrol vehicle was hit on the driver’s side by Deputy Ryan Dangerfield, who also had come to assist in the chase.

Both officers were taken to Novant Health Rowan Medical Center and released without injuries. Both patrol vehicles were towed by Crawford’s Wrecker Service.

The deputies got a description of the motorcycle driver and determined that there was no license plate on the vehicle.

The motorcyclist exited onto Innes Street and went toward Newsome Road, running stop signs and stoplights, officials said.

He turned right onto Bringle Ferry Road, off Newsome Road, and continued at a high rate of speed. The chase ended when the motorcycle turned right off Bringle Ferry Road into a grassy field, near the Tamarac Shores campground.

Officials said the motorcyclist, later identified as Victor Daniel Albrecht, 29, of the 9100 block of Bringle Ferry Road, left the motorcycle and ran on foot.

Deputies found the motorcycle in the woods near a path for Tamarac Shores campground. They searched the area but did not locate Albrecht.

The motorcycle was towed by Crawford’s Wrecker Service and will be seized through the state’s “run and done” law.

Rowan County officials said Albrecht faces numerous charges, including felony speeding to elude arrest; careless and reckless driving; driving while license revoked; speeding; operating a vehicle without registration; driving with no insurance; failure to stop at a stop sign or signal; and operating a motorcycle without a helmet.

The N.C. Highway Patrol is investigating the crash of the deputies’ vehicles.