Semitruck driver arrested after leading authorities on multi-county chase, deputies say

OCONEE COUNTY, S.C. (WHNS/Gray News) - A driver of a semitruck was arrested after leading police on a chase through multiple counties.

Anderson Police said that the chase started at the Walmart on Liberty Highway in Anderson when the store asked the 18-wheeler to be removed from the property.

The driver was asleep when officers approached the cab, and when they knocked on the cab, he pulled off. Police attempted to stop the truck until the pursuit was called off, and Anderson County deputies took up the chase.

Anderson County deputies chased the truck until deputies with the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office took up the chase on West Pine Grove Road.

Deputies said the truck turned onto Highway 59 at the intersection of Highway 243 in Oconee County, then turned onto Bratton Road and ran over the stop sign and road sign at the intersection.

Officials said the truck then turned onto Highway 182 and ran over another stop sign and a road sign before driving back onto Highway 59 and making another turn onto Bratton Road.

The truck then traveled onto Fairplay Boulevard and then to Doctors Road before stopping where Anderson County deputies had laid down stop sticks.

The driver, 48-year-old Michael James Akers, refused to exit the truck before deputies were able to arrest him.

Officials said that Akers was transported to Oconee Memorial Hospital before being cleared for transport to the Oconee County Detention Center.

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office charged Akers with having an open container of beer or wine in his truck, failing to stop for blue lights and reckless driving.

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Office charged him with failing to stop for blue lights and reckless driving.