PADUCAH, Ky. — A Kentucky man accused of possessing more than 7 pounds of marijuana was injured when he jumped out of his moving pickup truck while being pursued by deputies, authorities said.
Charges are pending against Corey J. Leonard, 29, of Paducah, the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office said. Leonard was arrested on Thursday after leading authorities on a pursuit through Brookport, Illinois, that ended in Kentucky, WPSD-TV reported.
According to the sheriff’s office, Leonard allegedly fled from deputies in Massac County and crossed the Brookport Bridge into Kentucky, according to the television station.
A Paducah man is hospitalized after investigators say he led law enforcement officers on a vehicle chase in Illinois and Kentucky before jumping out of a moving pickup in McCracken County. Investigators say they found 7 pounds of marijuana in the truck. https://t.co/91kSdfJPon
— WPSD Local 6 (@WPSDLocal6) June 24, 2022
Deputies said Leonard continued driving his 2010 Dodge Ram pickup until he jumped out of the moving vehicle, KFVS-TV reported.
According to McCracken County Sheriff Jon Hayden, investigators estimated the pickup was traveling at 50 mph when Leonard jumped from the vehicle, WPSD reported.
The unoccupied truck left the road, traveled through a stop sign and crashed into two parked vehicles and an occupied house, according to the television station.
Leonard fled on foot but was apprehended by deputies, KFVS reported. Hayden said investigators found more than 7 pounds of marijuana and approximately $2,500 in cash in the pickup.
Leonard was injured after exiting the truck and was taken to a hospital in Paducah before being airlifted to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, WPSD reported.
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