Polk County police have a female passenger in custody but were unable to locate the driver of a vehicle that nearly struck a propane storage tank on Piedmont Highway around 2:10 p.m. Monday.

Polk County Police Chief Kenny Dodd said police are still looking for Michael Lamar Poole, 41. Poole has had multiple addresses, but according to Polk police records, his most recent listed address was 89 E. Second St. Lindale.

Arrested at the scene of the wreck and remaining in custody Monday evening was Crysta Robinson, 30, a recent Cedartown resident formerly from South Carolina, Dodd said.

Robinson was being held on existing, outstanding warrants that include trafficking in methampetamine, manufacturing methamphetamine and conspiracy to commit a crime, Dodd said. Poole is wanted on the same offenses.

Early media reports about the incident described it as a police chase resulting in a wreck. The incident was a bit more complicated than that, Dodd said.

"Poole was on the side of the road putting gas in his car," Dodd said.

A patroling Polk County police officer happened to drive by at that time and recognized Poole as someone who was wanted on outstanding felony warrants for drug offenses, Dodd explained.

"When the patrol car turned around on him, he jumped in his car and took off," Dodd said. "(The officer) barely got to put his blue lights on him."

Poole took off from the roadside at a high rate of speed but didn't get very far. He attempted to make a turn off Piedmont Highway onto Branch Road at a too-fast speed, running off the road and striking a concrete structure around the propane storage tanks, Dodd said.

The wreck occurred "a short distance" from where Poole had been parked and where he was first spotted.

Poole reportedly jumped out of the car and ran into nearby woods. Robinson remained with the car. She was checked by paramedics but reportedly did not require medical treatment.

Dodd said police brought in the Cedartown Police Departments' K-9 dog and handler, but attempts to track Poole were unsuccessful -- likely due to the ground being so wet from recent rains, he said.

Police also canvassed nearby residential areas and alerted homeowners to the incident and the possibility that Poole could be hiding in the area.

Initially, emergency responders thought that the propane tanks had been struck and were leaking. According to reports, the tanks were not damaged. However, the radiator of the vehicle burst and was leaking steam.