Augusta County, VA – A high-speed pursuit involving a stolen vehicle ended in a violent rollover crash Friday in the Hermitage Road area, leading to felony charges against a Staunton man.
According to the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office, the pursuit began on Friday, December 5, 2025, after a deputy attempted to stop a 2007 Chrysler 300 that had been reported stolen out of Buena Vista. When the deputy activated emergency equipment to initiate the traffic stop, the driver allegedly sped away at a high rate of speed.
Deputies say the vehicle continued along Hermitage Road, Saint James Road, and crossed Long Meadow Road before entering Entry School Road. The pursuit ended when the Chrysler crashed and rolled multiple times. The driver was ejected from the vehicle. Both the driver and a passenger were transported to Augusta Health by local fire and rescue crews.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the driver was later identified as Cody Joseph Elwood Shores, 27, of Staunton. Shores was transferred to the University of Virginia Medical Center, where he was treated and released. UVA Police took him into custody at the hospital.
Shores now faces the following charges from the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office:
• Felony elude law enforcement
• Possession of a stolen vehicle (felony)
• Reckless driving
• Driving while license revoked or suspended
Virginia State Police assisted with the crash investigation. Shores is being held at the Charlottesville Albemarle Regional Jail without bond. No photo has been released at this time.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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