CHILLICOTHE, OH — A high-stakes narcotics surveillance operation shifted into a dangerous 13-mile high-speed pursuit Wednesday afternoon, ending only when the suspect’s vehicle ran out of fuel on a highway exit ramp.
Terrance “TC” Collins Sr. is currently behind bars at the Ross County Jail after allegedly leading Chillicothe Police and the Ohio State Highway Patrol on a chase that reached speeds of 120 MPH and resulted in a collision with a city utility truck.
From Surveillance to High-Speed Chase
The incident began when a Chillicothe Detective, operating an unmarked car, tracked Collins in a white Chevy Silverado from East Main Street up to Franklin County and back. Collins was already the subject of an open investigation regarding drug trafficking.
When Collins re-entered Ross County around 1:30 PM, the detective noted the vehicle’s windows were illegally tinted. When marked units attempted to initiate a traffic stop at East Main Street and Leggett Avenue, Collins reportedly floored it, fleeing through a residential neighborhood on Hildegarten Street.
Collision with City Utility Truck
The pursuit turned violent on South Douglas Avenue. Officers report that Collins drove “left of center” and went airborne while crossing railroad tracks near Mary Lou Patton Park. Upon landing, he struck an occupied Chillicothe City Utility Truck.
The driver of the utility truck, William Monroe, told investigators he had to swerve off the roadway to avoid a head-on collision. Fortunately, Monroe was not seriously injured, and officers remained on the scene to handle the accident report while the pursuit continued toward US-35.
The “Empty Tank” Ending
The chase transitioned to US-35 South, where the Ohio State Highway Patrol took the lead. State troopers reported that Collins reached speeds in excess of 120 MPH, weaving recklessly through light traffic on wet roadways.
The 13-mile pursuit came to an abrupt halt on the Vigo Road exit ramp. The reason for the surrender? Collins had simply run out of gas. Officers found the Silverado’s fuel tank nearly empty as they took him into custody at gunpoint.
Questionable Excuses
Upon his arrest, Collins allegedly told officers he fled because he believed there was an active warrant for his arrest involving a domestic violence charge. However, investigators found no such warrants and noted it was “highly unlikely” a person with Collins’ criminal history would risk a 3rd-degree felony for a non-existent misdemeanor warrant.
Current Status:
Arrested: Terrance Collins Sr.
Charges: Failure to Comply (Fleeing and Eluding), Leaving the Scene of an Accident, and Window Tint violations.
Legal Hold: The Ross County Adult Probation Department has placed a holder on Collins due to his active probation status.
Detectives seized two cellular phones from the vehicle as evidence in the ongoing drug trafficking investigation. The Silverado was towed to a secure facility for further processing.
