Woman fled from police in high-speed chase because she had suspended license, police say

A Lancaster woman allegedly fled from a Pennsylvania State Police trooper in Towamencin Township earlier this month during a 2:30 a.m. traffic stop, speeding as fast as 75 mph on Allentown, Wambold and Fretz roads in a car with a stolen registration.

 Zhalaysia Zhane Henson, 25, of 30^th block of E. Farnum Street, was charged by police out of the Skippack barracks with felony fleeing or eluding police, misdemeanor driving with a suspended license, and numerous summary offenses including failure to keep to the right, changing lanes when prohibited, failure to yield at a yield sign, driving with a broken headlight, careless driving, reckless driving, and driving without a license, according to court documents.

On Nov. 9, at 2:24 a.m., police were patrolling eastbound on Sumneytown Pike in Towamencin at the I-476 North offramp, when a black 2011 Hyundai Sonata, driven by Henson, stopped at a red light with a broken front driver’s side headlight, police said.

Troopers followed the Hyundai westbound on Sumneytown Pike and saw it turn right on Wambold Road without signaling, police said. Police activated emergency lights to conduct a traffic stop on Wambold Road, north of Sumneytown Pike, per the complaint.

However, Henson allegedly failed to stop and continued speeding in excess of 75 mph, with police reporting to dispatch that there was an active pursuit.

The pursuit occurred on Wambold, Allentown and Fretz roads, in which Henson allegedly made multiple vehicle code violations, such as crossing over the white fog and double yellow lines, turning without signaling, and failing to yield at yield signs.

Henson finally stopped at Allentown Road and Harleysville Pike/Route 113 in Franconia Township, police said. She was told to exit the car, and then she was placed into custody for eluding police, authorities said.

A check of her license uncovered it was suspended and the Hyundai had registration belonging to a Chevrolet, police said.

Police said Henson was attempting to flee because “she was afraid of being caught operating a motor vehicle as a suspended driver without a license.”

On Nov. 9, at 2:53 a.m., Henson was taken to Skippack barracks for processing, and held until preliminary arraignment later that morning, police said.

She was released on $5,000 unsecured bail by Magisterial District Judge Ed Levine and has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Nov. 20 at 10:15 a.m.

All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.