Just before 6:30 pm Thursday, White County Dispatch alerted local law enforcement to a reckless driver travelling south on Route 1 towards Carmi. Carmi Police were the first to spot the vehicle on East Main Street. White County Sheriff’s deputies then spotted the car attempting to turn around at a high rate of speed. Carmi officers observed the vehicle pass another vehicle at 78 miles per hour in a 45 mile per hour zone.
Officers continued to pursue the vehicle as it travelled north toward Crossville on Route 1. Officers reported reaching speeds of 106 miles per hour during the pursuit. The chase continued through Crossville toward Grayville.
During this point of the chase, officers were informed by dispatch that the vehicle was stolen out of Evansville. Grayville officers were dispatched to deploy spike strips before the vehicle could reach Interstate 64, but time did not allow that to happen and the pursuit continued onto the interstate toward Indiana. At the state line, local officers terminated the pursuit.
Information later received at White County dispatch from Indiana authorities stated that the driver had been a 14 year old male juvenile who had been being transported to a juvenile detention center when he had attacked a female transport officer and stole the vehicle, leaving the officer at a White Castle restaurant in Evansville. The juvenile told an employee at the detention center that the officer needed an ambulance after an attempt was made to call the officer on her cell phone.
It was later advised that the juvenile had been located and taken into custody in Newburgh, Indiana.
Charges compiled by local law enforcement and forwarded to the Evansville Police Department include improper lane usage, disobeying a no passing zone, failure to signal when required, speeding, speeding 35 miles or more over posted limit, driving without lights when required, driving too fast for conditions, reckless driving, no valid driver’s license, and aggressive fleeing.
A report was forwarded to the White County States Attorney’s office.
