Man accused of leading police on 120 mph pursuit on Route 22 before crashing in Salem

A Baltimore man is accused of leading state troopers on a 5-mile pursuit through a construction zone on Route 22 Sunday at speeds of 120 mph before crashing his car over a guardrail at the Route 66 interchange in Salem, according to court records.

Steven T. Randall, 42, is charged with 19 felony and misdemeanor criminal counts including fleeing and eluding police and 73 summary traffic citations after the pursuit that began at 8:54 a.m. in New Alexandria, according to Trooper Anthony Baum.

Baum wrote in court documents that he was monitoring traffic near the Route 22 intersection with West Penn Lane in New Alexandria when radar indicated that Randall’s 2016 Hyundai Sonata was traveling 76 mph in a highway section posted for 45 mph.

When Randall saw Baum pull out to pursue him, Randall ignored a steady red signal at the traffic light at the Route 981 intersection and continued westbound on Route 22, Baum wrote.

“The gray sedan continued westbound on State Route 22 in a construction zone, passing 16 vehicles on the right side of the roadway on the berm at speeds over 120 mph, putting other motorists’ lives in danger,” Baum wrote.

Baum said he lost sight of Randall’s car at the Route 66 interchange.

“I crossed over the bridge on Route 22 at the Route 66 intersection and looked down and observed the gray sedan on its roof on a guiderail,” Baum wrote.

Baum said he called other first responders and an ambulance and saw Randall exiting the wrecked car. Randall was arrested at the scene and refused medical treatment.

“The defendant stated that he ran because he was scared,” Baum said.

Baum said troopers found that Randall was carrying a “small amount of marijuana” in a coat pocket. A suspected marijuana grinder was found inside the vehicle. Randall also is charged with 16 counts of reckless endangerment and single counts of illegal possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

He was ordered held in the county prison after failing to post $25,000 bond pending a preliminary hearing June 8.