THROOP, PA — A 36-year-old Wayne County man faces felony charges after leading state police on a high-speed vehicle pursuit that ended with a truck driven into the Lackawanna River and a foot chase through the water.
Thomas Oscar Matt Flood, of Lake Ariel, was taken into custody shortly after midnight on Friday following an incident that originated near the intersection of Marshwood Road and Keystone Industrial Park Road in Throop Borough.
According to court filings:
- The Pursuit: Pennsylvania State Police troopers attempted to pull Flood over, but he fled the scene, initiating a high-speed chase through local streets.
- The Crash: The pursuit ended when Flood drove his pickup truck over an embankment and dike, launching the vehicle directly into the Lackawanna River.
- The River Foot Chase: Flood climbed out of the submerged truck and attempted to evade officers on foot by running through the river current toward the opposite bank. Troopers pursued him directly into the water.
- The Arrest: After reaching the opposite shoreline, police say Flood refused multiple verbal commands to drop to the ground and resisted officers' attempts to secure his hands. Troopers deployed a stun device (Taser) to gain compliance and take him into custody.
Flood faces a felony charge of fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, alongside misdemeanor charges including driving under the influence (DUI), resisting arrest, and recklessly endangering another person. The police complaint also includes numerous summary traffic violations.
