William Shannon Coston has been identified as the man who lost his life following a police pursuit through Surf City early Sunday morning.
According to the Surf City Police Department, the incident began around 1:58 a.m. on July 21, when a patrol sergeant observed a white Chevrolet Silverado driving erratically on NC Highway 50. The vehicle was reportedly committing multiple lane violations and failing to maintain control. Concerned for public safety, the sergeant activated emergency lights and sirens in an attempt to initiate a traffic stop.
Despite the effort, Coston did not stop. While there were no initial signs of a high-speed attempt to flee, he continued driving erratically along NC 50, then Shepards Road, and eventually onto U.S. Highway 17.
As the situation escalated, Surf City Police requested assistance from the Pender County Sheriff’s Office. Officers reported that Coston suddenly accelerated and fled at high speed. In accordance with department policy, Surf City officers ceased the pursuit for safety reasons.
At 2:04 a.m., a Pender County deputy observed Coston heading eastbound on NC Highway 210. Just one minute later, at approximately 2:05 a.m., Coston’s vehicle crashed near Valhalla Way.
Emergency responders arrived at the scene, where Coston was pronounced dead. According to Surf City PD, open containers of alcohol were discovered in the vehicle, and preliminary evidence suggests that impaired driving and loss of control were contributing factors in the fatal crash.
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol is conducting a full investigation into the incident.
“This tragedy underscores the devastating consequences of impaired driving,” said Surf City Police Chief Voorhees. “We are grateful to our law enforcement and emergency service partners for their quick and professional response to this heartbreaking situation.”
Authorities have confirmed that there is no ongoing threat to the public.
Leave a Reply