FREDERICK COUNTY, VA — A man accused of abducting a woman at knifepoint was arrested Friday morning after a dangerous chase across state lines that ended in a ditch along Route 37, according to the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies responded to a 5:30 a.m. emergency call on March 21 reporting that a woman had been forcibly taken by Nicholas Hess and was being transported in a 2008 Ford pickup truck from Berkeley County, West Virginia, into Virginia.
The truck was located near the state line where deputies initiated a felony traffic stop. While Hess initially exited the vehicle, he abruptly jumped back in and fled, leading authorities on a high-speed pursuit southbound on I-81.
During the chase, the woman attempted to escape but was unsuccessful. Deputies were ultimately able to corner the truck on Route 37, forcing it into a ditch. Despite a final attempt to flee, Hess was captured and taken into custody.
The woman was able to escape from the vehicle and was later treated for injuries sustained during the initial abduction.
Hess faces a list of charges including abduction, felony eluding, assault on law enforcement, hit and run, and reckless driving. Authorities have not disclosed the nature of the relationship between Hess and the victim.