21-year-old man arrested for reckless driving, fleeing from authorities through agricultural field in Fond du Lac
FOND DU LAC, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The Fon du Lac Sheriff's Office arrested a 21-year-old Kenosha County man on charges of Knowingly Fleeing an Officer, First-Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety and Operating a Motor Vehicle While Under the Influence following a 19-mile pursuit from local law enforcement Wednesday, Nov. 24.
On Wednesday, Nov. 24, at approximately 10:01 a.m. a deputy with the Fond du Lac Sheriff’s Office reportedly attempted to perform a traffic stop on a vehicle for driving behavior, which consisted of traveling under the speed limit, impeding the travel of other vehicles and not being able to maintain control within its lane of travel, as well as an expired registration on USH 45 near CTH W in Eden, Wis.
The 21-year-old driver of the vehicle, a four-door Jeep SUV, would reportedly not pull over and continued southbound at a slow speed for a distance while driving erratically within the lane of travel.
Officials report that the vehicle then increased in speed and continued to flee southbound on USH 45 before turning westbound on CTH F.
Additionally, the Fon du Lac Sheriff's Office says the vehicle continued westbound on CTH F with speeds reaching 60 mph before turning north on CTH W and then traveling back towards USH 45 with speeds reaching 80 mph.
Authorities say that before reaching USH 45, the vehicle turned westbound onto a gravel lane on private property continuing to flee until coming to a dead-end in an agricultural field.
Reports show that the vehicle then traveled into the agricultural field and then back onto the gravel lane, back eastbound to CTH W.
The vehicle then reportedly turned southbound on CTH W traveling towards the Village of Campbellsport with speeds reaching 60 mph.
Authorities terminated the pursuit before it reached the Village of Campbellsport due to concerns over the time of day, civilian traffic, and a known construction zone project within the village.
Upon terminating the pursuit and losing sight of the vehicle, the deputy reportedly traveled the last known direction and observed the vehicle traveling northbound on CTH V from East Sheboygan Street, leaving the Village of Campbellsport.
Information provided by the Fon du Lac Sheriff's Office reveals that at this time, knowing there were other patrol units in the area and the fleeing vehicle was no longer in the village, the deputy again activated the patrol squad lights and siren attempting to stop the vehicle.
Officials say the vehicle proceeded to fail to stop and continued northbound on CTH V varying speeds from 45 mph to 75 mph.
The fleeing vehicle was reportedly able to avoid the tire deflation devices and continued northbound on CTH V towards the Village of Eden.
The Sheriff's office says that two other deputies were positioned on CTH V just outside of the Village of Eden with two sets of tire deflation devices set up.
As the fleeing approached their position, the vehicle reportedly turned eastbound onto Shady Lane and continued to the end of Shady Lane, again driving off the roadway onto private property while evading the pursuing deputies and those deputies who were positioning themselves to block the vehicle from fleeing further.
Authorities say the vehicle traveled through several yards in the Village of Eden before getting back onto CTH V and continuing to flee northbound on CTH V out of the Village of Eden.
The vehicle then reportedly attempted to make a turn to travel northbound on CTH K, at which time the driver lost control of the vehicle and traveled into the ditch.
Officials say that a deputy then attempted to use their patrol squad to ram and disable the fleeing vehicle to end the pursuit.
Reports show that the deputy was able to strike the vehicle causing significant damage to both the patrol squad and the fleeing vehicle. but was not able to stop the fleeing vehicle which continued out of the ditch and again northbound on CTH K.
The Fon du Lac Sheriff's Office says that, just a short time later, the driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed on CTH K just before USH 45.
Following the crash, first responders transported the driver, by ambulance, to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries.
Upon medical clearance, officials say the 21-year-old suspect will be transported to the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office Jail.
The Fond du Lac Sheriff’s Office was reportedly assisted at the crash scene by Wisconsin State Patrol, Eden Fire Department and City of Fond du Lac Paramedics.