NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) — A man wanted in connection with a reckless driving incident jumped off the James River Bridge in Newport News to avoid arrest earlier this week has been arrested, according to Virginia State Police.
After he was released from the hospital, Newport News Police arrested Kelly Golden Jr., 29, of Suffolk on the following charges: failure to appear on a felony offense, disregard/elude law enforcement, reckless driving and two counts of contempt of court.
According to officials, at approximately 8:45 a.m. on Jan. 22, state police were coordinating with a DMV officer after a black sedan was seen driving recklessly on the JRB. The black sedan was involved in a crash with three other vehicles. There were no injuries reported from the crash.
The driver of the sedan, Golden, then fled the scene on foot. After spotting state police, Golden jumped off of the southside of the bridge in an attempt to avoid apprehension, state police said.
“He didn’t stop and think about it. He went right across and jumped in the water. My jaw dropped,” said witness Walter Averett, who was on his way to Suffolk and was about halfway across the James River Bridge when he said traffic slowed, then stopped. From his truck he watched Golden go over the rail and into the water. The temperature outside, he said, was about 28 degrees.
Seconds later, Averett heard tires screeching to his left.
Golden left his sedan in the middle of the bridge, causing several cars to crash into one another.
Golden, who state police say was wanted for a felony probation violation, drifted north along the river until a civilian vessel was able to pull him to safety.
Golden was taken to Riverside Regional Medical Center to assess his injuries.
State police are investigating the crash.
In 2009, at age 15, Golden set fire to three homes and damaged five vehicles on Franklin Street in Suffolk. A judge found him guilty on five counts of arson and he was ordered to spend four years in a detention home.
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