Car eludes police after 18-mile, 100 mph chase
Staff writer
At speeds in excess of 100 mph and often over unpaved roads, a gray Ford Fusion led Peabody police officer Kaitlin Brunner on an 18-mile chase shortly before midnight Saturday through Marion, Butler, and Harvey Counties.
The chase began when Brunner attempted to stop the car, which had no license plate light, at 11:23 p.m. eastbound from Peabody on Potters Rd., which becomes 60th Rd. outside the city limits.
Brunner radioed that the car was traveling 93 mph before turning south on Old Mill Rd., where just a two hours earlier an 80-year-old woman had become stuck in mud half a mile north of the intersection and had to be rescued by firefighters. The road to the north was barricaded as a result.
Going 103 mph, the Ford continued south on Old Mill for six miles, passing into Butler County before turning west for two miles onto NW 160th Rd., passing Elbing.
Crossing into Harvey County, it continued a mile north on Osage Rd., then west for two miles on NE 24th Rd., north for a mile on Grace Hill Rd., west for a mile on NE 36th Rd., and finally south for six miles on East Lake Rd., well past Harvey County East Park, before Brunner lost the vehicle at 11:40 p.m. at SE 36th Rd.
Deputies from Butler, Harvey, and Marion counties appeared to have been monitoring the situation, but monitored radio transmissions do not indicate they became directly involved.
There was no indication whether the Ford was located after Brunner lost track of it.