Man dies after 114 mph pursuit ends with car crashing into a church, sheriff says

HALLSVILLE, Texas (KLTV/Gray News) - A Texas man has died in a crash after leading deputies on a high-speed pursuit.

Harrison County authorities say the situation started around 11 p.m. Monday near Hallsville High School and the pursuit ended after the man’s vehicle hit the First Baptist Church of Hallsville on North Central Street.

According to authorities, the driver, later identified as Jason Thomas Hart, was going over 100 mph before the crash.

“We received a call about a vehicle in a mobile home park driving erratically in the park. And it was reported that it almost ran into some trailers,” Harrison County Sheriff B.J. Fletcher said.

A deputy caught up to him on Farm to Market Road 450.

“We were pacing him at 114 mph at the time,” Fletcher said.

Hart didn’t pull over for the deputy, and he continued traveling at a high rate of speed.

“It [the vehicle] went airborne at the railroad tracks and then lost control right when it hit a ramp,” Fletcher said.

Hart’s vehicle ended up hitting a wall of the church and tore down an awning before landing in a ditch. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

“When they got to the car, it was an obvious no signs of life,” Fletcher said.

Authorities said Hart was trying to evade deputies for about 15 minutes.

“This person put a lot of people at risk last night. If it had been just a couple hours sooner, I doubt very seriously he would have made it through that intersection without possibly hitting a family or another person at least,” Fletcher said.

Church leadership said the damage does not compare to the fatality.

“Our facility can be repaired, but the loss of life will greatly impact this family forever,” leadership said. “More details will be shared as we assess damage and make decisions about the use of the facility.”

Fletcher said he didn’t know why Hart had run from deputies. His blood has been submitted for a toxicology report. The crash itself remains under investigation.