Deputy Chase Ends in Fairview Road Crash

A Buncombe County stolen-vehicle pursuit on I-240 ended in a crash and three arrests, including a juvenile.

Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Property Crime

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of an empty interstate curving through a wooded ridge under a cool blue light wash, evoking a quiet, grave roadside moment. — A Buncombe County deputy's pursuit of a reported stolen vehicle on I-240 ended in a crash at Fairview Road on Thursday, with three people arrested. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

A Buncombe County Sheriff's Office deputy spotted a vehicle reported stolen by police on I-240 around 2:20 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026. The driver initially stopped, then fled, and the chase ended when the car crashed on I-240 East at Fairview Road, where three occupants ran and were taken into custody.

Why it matters

The incident shows how a stolen-vehicle report can escalate quickly into a high-speed pursuit on a busy Asheville-area highway. Residents traveling I-240 near Fairview Road may see continued enforcement activity as the cases move forward.

Tavon Jaqeise Edgerton faces felony hit and run, possession of a stolen motor vehicle, resisting a public officer, fleeing to elude arrest, speeding, and driving while license revoked. Maleah Simerson faces two misdemeanor charges and was taken to Mission Hospital to be checked out, and was not yet listed in the Buncombe County inmate system.

The players

Buncombe County Sheriff's Office

The Buncombe County Sheriff's Office is the local law enforcement agency responsible for patrolling the county and its highways, including the stretch of I-240 where this pursuit began.

The details

The deputy's attempt to stop the vehicle on I-240 led to a pursuit that ended when the car crashed on I-240 East at Fairview Road. Three people ran from the wreck and were taken into custody, including one juvenile.

Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026, around 2:20 p.m.: deputy spots stolen vehicle on I-240 and the traffic stop and chase begin.

Legal Context

The charges filed here, including felony hit and run and fleeing to elude arrest, follow North Carolina's pattern of layering flight-related offenses on top of a stolen-vehicle case. Similar pursuits in Buncombe County are typically handled under the same statutes.

Drivers on I-240 near Fairview Road may see increased law enforcement activity as the investigation continues. Residents should be aware that stolen-vehicle pursuits on busy highways can create sudden traffic hazards.

The takeaway

Stolen-vehicle reports can quickly become dangerous highway pursuits, so drivers who see a suspicious car should report it rather than approach it. Staying alert on I-240 and giving police room to work helps keep everyone safer.