COLUMBIA COUNTY, Fla. – A high-speed pursuit involving a vehicle previously flagged by Lake City police ended in a rollover crash and multiple drug-related charges Friday evening, according to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.
At about 6:25 p.m. on January 23, 2026, CCSO Deputy Rivera spotted a red Ford pickup truck matching the description of a vehicle that had earlier fled from the Lake City Police Department. The truck was seen leaving the Wendy’s parking lot and traveling south on State Road 47 toward Columbia City.
Deputy Rivera observed the vehicle had a blown headlight and an expired license plate, prompting an attempted traffic stop using emergency lights and sirens. The driver, later identified as 48-year-old Samuel Elias Watson, instead accelerated and fled aggressively, driving into oncoming traffic and reaching speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour.
The pursuit continued eastbound onto County Road 240, where Watson lost control of the truck. The vehicle fishtailed and overturned onto its passenger side on the north side of the roadway.
A passenger exited the truck at officers’ commands and reported that the driver remained inside. Watson later exited the vehicle and was taken into custody. During a search, deputies found Watson in possession of marijuana, a methamphetamine pipe, a small bag of methamphetamine, and another bag containing cocaine and fentanyl.
After being medically cleared, Watson was transported to the Columbia County Detention Facility. He was booked on charges including fleeing and eluding, driving with a suspended license, possession of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He is being held without bond.
The passenger was not injured and was released at the scene.
The Florida Highway Patrol is conducting a separate investigation related to the crash and possible DUI offenses stemming from the pursuit.
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