MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. — The Maryland man who led police along a wild chase across multiple counties is scheduled to be sentenced on Thursday.
Flavio Lanuza pleaded guilty to second-degree assault on a law enforcement officer, fleeing and eluding marked police, and eleven counts of failure to return and remain at the scene of an accident under a plea agreement in September.
In February, a Maryland State-issued tow truck responded to a hit-and-run near Greenbelt Metro Station. When the driver of the tow truck arrived, Lanuza jumped inside of the tow truck and drove off.
Troopers attempted to stop Lanuza along I-495 causing an additional crash involving two other cars. Lanuza then drove the truck from Prince George's County into Montgomery County. As officers from the county attempted to stop Lanuza he began driving more aggressively.
Lanuza drove through power lines, rammed a Maryland State Police vehicle, pushed a vehicle into oncoming traffic causing a head-on collision while trying to flee, and drove along the opposite side of the road striking multiple vehicles, all before the vehicle got stuck in a ditch.
Lanuza struck at least 13 vehicles, including two law enforcement cars, injuring one State Trooper. He's facing 14 years and 10 months in prison and will be sentenced on Thursday.
Additionally, Lanuza still faces charges in Prince George's County for the same police chase.