Alva driver accused of leading police on wild chase

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EAST NAPLES, Fla. — A Collier County deputy, a Florida Highway Patrol trooper and a Miccosukee Police Department officer were all in pursuit of a driver going the wrong way on Alligator Alley on Saturday night, authorties said.

Alva resident Willie Lee Christmas, 36, was arrested and faces multiple driving and drug-related charges after the FHP trooper caught up to him near mile marker 73. Christmas appeared intoxicated and the trooper found marijuana, cocaine and two bottles of alcohol in the white Mercury Grand Marquis he was driving, FHP said.

Christmas was initially pulled over near mile marker 70 after he was observed going the wrong way in the northbound lanes. He then took off again, once more going the wrong way before crossing the median into the southbound lanes and accelerating to 110 miles per hour, according to FHP.

The Miccosukee Police Department saw him turn around again near mile marker 49, and FHP ultimately found the car parked along the shoulder.

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