What started as a routine traffic stop in Franklin County on Sunday quickly turned into a wild scene that stretched from a highway pursuit to the waters of Lake Hartwell. Investigators said a man accused of driving a stolen Subaru Outback tried everything he could to escape Georgia State Patrol before finally ending up in the middle of a cove.
According to authorities, the incident unfolded around 12:19 p.m. when a trooper from Georgia State Patrol Post 52 in Hartwell spotted a reported stolen white 2017 Subaru Outback on Gerrard Road near Pleasant Hill Road. Troopers attempted to pull the vehicle over, but investigators said the driver immediately hit the gas and took off.
The chase continued onto Georgia Highway 328 as troopers followed the Subaru northbound. Officials said the pursuit came to a sudden stop near mile marker 3 after the driver lost control while going through a curve. The vehicle slid onto the west shoulder before the front driver’s side slammed into a guardrail.
Authorities said the Subaru finally stopped while partially blocking the roadway. But even after the crash, the driver allegedly was not ready to give up. Troopers said he jumped out of the wrecked SUV and ran from the scene on foot.
Investigators said the suspect then made a desperate move that stunned people nearby. He reportedly jumped straight into Lake Hartwell and started swimming toward the middle of a nearby cove while law enforcement rushed to surround the area.
A deputy with the Hart County Sheriff’s Office and an officer from the Lavonia Police Department eventually used a local resident’s boat to reach the suspect in the water. Authorities said they safely secured him before bringing him back to shore and taking him into custody.
Georgia State Patrol identified the suspect as 29-year-old Shawn Austin Mays of Lavonia. Officials said he suffered only minor injuries and was transported to St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Hospital for treatment.
Troopers said Mays is expected to face several charges connected to the incident, including felony fleeing. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue reviewing the events that led to the chase and crash.
