Prattville Woman Arrested After High-Speed Chase on I-65, Highway 14

Julianna D. Wood, 28, of Prattville is facing felony charges and a $36,000 bond after allegedly telling Elmore County deputies she fled a Millbrook traffic stop because she feared outstanding warrants from a neighboring county. Officers determined those warrants did not exist.

Millbrook police first spotted Wood's silver Nissan Altima driving erratically near Wisteria Place on Alabama Highway 14 on Thursday, April 2. When an officer activated emergency equipment, the vehicle did not stop. The chase moved through Monument Drive, Main Street, and Browns Road before the Altima accelerated onto Interstate 65, where speeds exceeded 100 mph. The pursuit ended near I-65 mile marker 182, where Wood was taken into custody without incident.

Officers noted the vehicle already had damage when it was stopped, and initially suspected Wood may have been fleeing an earlier collision. During the chase, the Altima performed repeated lane-weaving maneuvers, made unusual turns, and at one point cut through a business parking lot before returning to the roadway.

Wood was charged with Felony Attempting to Elude and Reckless Endangerment, along with multiple traffic violations. No injuries were reported despite the high speeds and erratic driving documented by Millbrook officers. She was processed and transferred to the Elmore County Jail, where she remains on a $36,000 bond. Her case will proceed through the Elmore County court system.

The pursuit route ran through busy commercial and residential corridors. Highway 14 connects Millbrook to Prattville and carries steady weekday traffic; the I-65 stretch brings speeds into a corridor used daily by commuters traveling between the Montgomery metro and points north.

Motorists who encounter an active pursuit nearby should maintain their lane and speed rather than making sudden moves to the shoulder. Predictable driving allows pursuing officers to react safely around other vehicles. If you are directly in the path of a chase and have time and room to clear it safely, do so. Calling 911 to report the pursuit's location and direction of travel helps officers manage the scene more effectively.