NORFOLK, Va. — A 21-year-old man was sentenced to more than a year in prison for charges stemming from a police chase in a stolen vehicle that ended with him crashing into a train, the Norfolk Commonwealth's Attorney Office announced Friday.
As part of a plea agreement, Ragee Smith pleaded guilty to felony eluding, hit and run resulting in damage to property and being in receipt of a stolen automobile. He will spend one and a half years in prison, according to prosecutors.
The incident happened in the overnight hours of July 16, 2023, when Smith allegedly stole a Kia Sorrento and was later spotted on the FLOCK camera system driving in the Wawa parking lot on East Princess Anne Road, between Ingleside and Cromwell roads. When Norfolk officers initiated their emergency lights, police say Smith sped onto Princess Anne, reaching 75 miles per hour.
As he was heading west, a train crossed Princess Anne near May Avenue, prompting him to turn off the main roadway and onto side streets. He was later blocked by the train off of Goff Street, leading him to jump out of the Sorrento and crash it into the moving train, prosecutors said.
Smith attempted to run away but was ultimately apprehended by officers.
“Before Norfolk had FLOCK, auto thefts could take weeks to solve,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “With FLOCK, these cases are often solved in hours."
