Florida man driving big rig arrested after leading officials on high-speed chase through 4 counties

FORT BEND COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- A Florida man was arrested after leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase in an 18-wheeler on Saturday afternoon, police said.

Christopher John Lubowski, 51, was arrested for felony charges of evading and possession of a controlled substance after a more than 2.5-hour chase.

Police said they found meth inside of the truck's cabin.

According to authorities, the chase began in Montgomery County when the Roman Forest Police Department responded to a report of reckless driving.

The 18-wheeler literally wobbled its way from one interstate to the next, narrowly missing cars, and almost running over deputies.

Eyewitness News obtained video from Roman Forest police, showing the big rig making a U-turn in the middle of the highway before driving right into oncoming traffic.

"I didn't think I was going to make it, because it was so fast," Gean Fernandez told ABC13.

ABC13 obtained exclusive dashcam video from a driver, showing the moments before the crash where Fernandez was hit by the big rig near Katy Mills.

From interstate to highway, the semi-truck wrapped around the loop multiple times, driving over medians, through red lights, narrowly missing cars, and sideswiping others.

Zack Shami told ABC13 that his family was almost hit head-on by the truck when it sped by.

"I didn't know where to look at, the driver, 18-wheeler, the cops, everything was just moving so fast," Shami said. "I was (walking) down with my family, and then all of a sudden I see one cop, and then all of a sudden, 100 cops chasing that 18-wheeler!"

The chase then passed through Harris and Fort Bend counties and ended with the help of several additional Houston-area agencies, including the Houston Police Department and the Department of Public Safety, and all required tactical forces, including aviation units.

According to authorities, Lubowski was powering through dense residential neighborhoods and was forced to stop in a Fulshear neighborhood in Fort Bend County.

Police told ABC13 they had to shoot the tires off of the big rig to get it to stop.

SkyEye captured the moments the chase ended from above. From below, ABC13's Chris Rodriguez was one of the first at the scene.

"It wrapped up right here, right in front of my eyes. I've talked to people out here just walking their dog, and all of a sudden, an 18-wheeler hauling down Cross Street Bend," Rodriguez said.

Dan Wampler lives in the apartment complex close to where the chase ended. He told Eyewitness News that when he walked outside, deputies had their guns drawn and pointed at the truck.

"I went back inside, and I said, 'This is serious,'" Wampler said. "I can't remember in my life, seeing this many police cars at any event like this at once."

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