NEWTON, Kan. – At approximately 6:35 pm Sunday, Harvey County 911 received a call from a woman who reported a vehicle following her after she left visiting family in a local retirement home.
The woman reported the other vehicle collided with her at 1st and Main. The victim drove around the block in an effort to get away from the other vehicle, but found the car waiting for her at 3rd and Main. The victim remained on the phone with 911 and continued northbound.
The vehicle continued to follow and caused another collision near 12th and Main. The panicked woman says she pulled into a restaurant parking lot at the north end of Newton, where it appears the suspect may have caused a third collision.
As officers arrived in the area the suspect vehicle fled the scene. Officers and Deputies chased the vehicle north on Main, and then southbound on I-135. A Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper deployed road spikes near 1st and I-135. Unfortunately his hand became tangled in the cordage attached to the spikes and caused an injury when the suspect ran over the spikes. The suspect continued southbound at speeds near 80mph with three flat tires.
The suspect crossed into Sedgwick County where a deputy had another set of spikes deployed. The suspect vehicle unexpectedly veered to the right entering the ditch, and lost control rolling the vehicle 2-3 times. The driver, a female in her late 20’s, was treated by EMS at the scene and released to law enforcement custody. She’s currently at the Harvey County Detention Center where she has been booked on numerous charges including aggravated battery, felony flee and elude police, reckless driving, DUI, among others. The motive or triggering event for this behavior is unclear at this time.
* Photo from Newton Police.