On Tuesday, Jason Therrien’s evening in Volusia County became hectic, and events unfolded differently than expected. A standard traffic stop in Daytona Beach escalated into a chase across several police jurisdictions, concluding in the typical manner: with trouble, noise, and being taken into custody.
The situation began when Therrien, who was driving a BMW with a license plate that belonged to a Nissan, treated a traffic stop as optional rather than mandatory. He chose to speed away instead of stopping, prompting law enforcement to pursue him.
What came next was a reckless drive that would cause a stunt coordinator to cringe and an insurance adjuster to faint. Therrien cut through traffic, moved into oncoming lanes, ran red lights, and sped at more than 40 mph over the limit in residential areas where children, pets, and mailboxes are usually found.
Afterward, Therrien’s reckless driving ended suddenly and noisily. Multiple law enforcement agencies joined the situation before it finished, and once it was over, he faced numerous charges that will occupy him for some time.
The checkpoint only slowed us down slightly.
Holly Hill officers attempted an initial routine traffic stop that Therrien ignored, reported CBS 12. Daytona Beach officers then used tire-puncturing stop strips to slow the fleeing vehicle. Therrien drove directly over the strips and continued moving. Volusia deputies placed another set of stop strips, which he also crashed through.
You might now question what was going through his mind. Stop sticks are far from discreet. They are vivid and positioned on the road for a purpose, and driving over them two times indicates either extreme dedication or very poor decision making. We will leave it to the court to determine which.
The Fugitive’s Journey Stops at a Stationary Vehicle
At the corner where Old Dixie Highway meets Walter Boardman Lane, Therrien could no longer maintain control, drove off the pavement, and struck a parked Volusia County sheriff’s vehicle. From above, the scene revealed officers encircling the damaged BMW with weapons aimed, while bodycam footage recorded Therrien being detained on the ground.
The most positive outcome from this incident is that no officers were injured. Therrien, aged 39, is now accused of multiple offenses, such as aggravated reckless escape, driving an unregistered vehicle, and possessing crack cocaine, fentanyl, cannabis, and drug tools. That stash is a lot for a single traffic stop that turned bad.
Ultimately, the cost of damaged tires and a scratched bicycle is trivial given the intensity of this incident, particularly when measured against the potential danger on local roads. This case will be decided in a legal setting rather than featured in a celebration of driving moments.