Woman leads Sumter deputies into Kershaw, has tires spiked

A 47-year-old woman was arrested early Saturday morning after she reportedly led Sumter County deputies on a chase into Kershaw County, where stop sticks were used to flatten her tires, and batons were used to smash her windows and extricate her.

Helena Mills, of 2010 N. St. Paul Church Road, was charged with failure to yield right of way, driving under suspension, third offense, failure to stop for a blue light or siren, being a habitual offender and possession of drug paraphernalia about 1:46 a.m. after she nearly caused a wreck at a driver's license checkpoint at S.C. 261 and Horatio Hagood Road. Deputies said they followed her for 15 miles up S.C. 261 and notified Kershaw County authorities, who waited for her at U.S. 521 North with stop sticks that flattened the driver's side tires on her 1998 Chevrolet Lumina.

Mills continued driving for two miles and tried to get onto Interstate 20, at which point Kershaw County deputies used their batons to smash two windows and bring her into custody. Mills threw out a glass crack pipe just before she was brought into custody, a report said.