Fort Benning soldier arrested after speeding 100 mph and fiery crash in Columbus
A speeding Corvette surpassing 100 mph ended up in a fiery crash and resulted in the arrest of a Fort Benning soldier Saturday night in Columbus, authorities said.
In an emailed interview Tuesday with the Ledger-Enquirer, Muscogee County Sheriff Greg Countryman and MCSO Maj. John Thomas described the following incident:
At approximately 10:30 p.m., an MCSO deputy attempted a traffic stop of a speeding Corvette.
“The driver of the Corvette continued to flee while turning off his headlights,” Countryman said, “endangering his life and the passenger in the vehicle. . . . One of the patrol captains called off the traffic stop.”
The driver lost control of the car as it struck the curb of the South Lumpkin Road roundabout near Oxbow Meadows Golf Course. He crashed in a wooded area, and the vehicle caught fire, Countryman said.
MCSO deputies dispatched Columbus Fire/EMS to the scene. The driver and the passenger allegedly attempted to flee, but they were caught and arrested without incident, Countryman said.
The driver of the Corvette was identified as Clifford Castillo, 33, an active-duty U.S. Army soldier stationed at Fort Benning, Thomas said. He is being held in the Muscogee County Jail after his case was bound over to Superior Court during his preliminary hearing Monday.
Thomas listed the following charges against Castillo:
- Headlights Required Certain Times
- Fleeing to Elude (Felony)
- Speeding (100/35)
- Driving too Fast for Conditions
- Reckless Driving
- Aggressive Driving
- Failure to Maintain Lane
- Improper Lane Change
- Turing Positions/Proper Signals
- Failure to Exhibit License
- Failure to Exhibit Insurance
- No Proof Insurance
- Hit and Run
- Duty to Report
- Failure to Report
- Failure to Yield Authorized Emergency Vehicle
- Criminal Damage to Property 2nd Degree (Felony)
- Obstruction (Misdemeanor)
- Reckless Conduct
- False Report of a Crime (Felony).
“Drivers that flee from law enforcement show a conscious disregard for the safety of others on the roadway,” Thomas said. “That can result in serious criminal charges.”
The MCSO didn’t file any criminal charges against the passenger. “She was released at the scene,” Thomas said.
In an email Wednesday to the Ledger-Enquirer, Fort Benning garrison public affairs director Joe Cole confirmed Castillo is assigned to Fort Benning and said specialist is his rank.
This story was originally published October 7, 2025 at 12:36 PM.
