A dramatic high-speed chase through the streets of southwest Atlanta ended in disaster early Thursday morning, leaving a trail of injuries and a manhunt in its wake. The Georgia State Patrol pursued a stolen white Hyundai Sonata starting on Interstate 20, which escalated into a desperate attempt to evade capture, ultimately leading to a serious crash on MLK Jr. Drive and Verbena Street, as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta.

The chase began when troopers tried to stop the vehicle near the Downtown Connector but instead of complying, the driver floored it down I-20 and despite law enforcement's efforts to stop him with a PIT maneuver, they had to abandon the tactic because of the traffic and concerns over a curve in the road, troopers attempted to use their Taser on the suspect after the crash but to no avail, the man tore out the probes, scuffled with an officer, and then vanished into the nearby woods, as captured in details by Atlanta News First.

Three unfortunate passengers were left in the wake of the suspect's desperate flight, with two sustaining serious injuries and one lesser hurt, all of whom were rushed to Grady Memorial Hospital for treatment. The disrupted peace of the early morning was further rattled by the discovery of a stolen firearm on the driver's side of the crashed vehicle, confirming law enforcement's suspicions of the car’s illicit status.

After the violent interruption of the night, MLK Jr. Drive's normal rhythm of never-ending comings and goings was briefly arrested, cordoned off as investigators pored over the scene and collected evidence they hoped would lead to the suspect's apprehension, the road has since been reopened to its usual flow and fervor, and authorities remain on the alert for the elusive driver, now the subject of an ongoing and extensive search operation.

Anyone with information pertinent to this incident is urged to contact the Atlanta Police Department, as the search continues for the suspect described by investigators as a Black male in his 20s, though he is not considered a threat to the public at this time. The community holds its breath, hoping for resolution and justice in the wake of chaos left on MLK Jr. Drive.