DPS Identifies Suspect Who Died in Upshur Co. Law Enforcement Chase

GILMER � Authorities say a teen led law officers on a chase in Upshur County and died after his truck drove underneath a tanker and he was thrown from his vehicle. According to KETK, DPS says Lane Buchanan, 18, of Gilmer, was pronounced dead at the scene. At around 7:45 Friday morning, troopers learned of an East Mountain police chase near Gilmer. When the suspect, Buchanan, was trying to cross Highway 271 on North Pleasant Grove, he clipped a vehicle sitting at a stop sign, officials say. Authorities report Buchanan’s truck then traveled underneath a tanker headed north on 271. Once the truck shot out the other side, the pickup struck a car driving south and Buchanan was thrown from his vehicle, according to law enforcement.

Officials say when the truck slid underneath the tanker, a hole was punctured in the load container. They say that caused oil to spill onto the road, prompting a lengthy cleanup process. No other major injuries were reported.