A hit-and-run Tuesday night in Hinesville led authorities on a high-speed chase that ended near Holmestown Road when the suspect crashed, police said.

Hinesville police Traffic Accident Investigator Michael Ramirez said a female driving a 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier was trying to cross East Oglethorpe Highway from Fraser Drive onto M.L. King Jr. Drive shortly after 8:30 p.m. when she was struck by a 2011 Dodge pickup driven by Ervin Sebastian, a soldier assigned to Fort Stewart.

Sebastian ran the red light at the intersection, striking the front bumper of the Cavalier and damaging the plastic covering, Ramirez said.
Sebastian did not stop and continued eastbound toward Midway, Ramirez said. Witnesses followed the pickup and called the license plate number in to 911, according to Ramirez.

A Liberty County deputy leaving the Parker’s gas station on McLarry’s Curve pursued the pickup and attempted to stop it in front of Liberty County High School, Ramirez said.

Georgia State Patrol Trooper Henry Gilliard said Sebastian continued to speed east, at times in excess of 100 mph.

As Sebastian neared Holmestown Road, he struck the sign of Wilderness Baptist Church in the 6100 block of East Oglethorpe Highway and lost control of his vehicle, causing it to flip several times and strike a tree, Gilliard said.

Midway Volunteer Fire and Rescue extracted Sebastian from the vehicle.

He was flown to Memorial University Medical Center in Savannah by a Medical Air Evacuation helicopter. His condition was not immediately available.

Gilliard said a DUI charge is pending against Sebastian, and Ramirez said fleeing the scene of an accident and failure to yield the right of way charges also are pending.