Law Enforcement from several different agencies were involved in a wrong-way chase on I-35 this afternoon. At 12:10 this afternoon, an Osage County Sheriff’s Deputy pursued a tan GMC Yukon onto I-35; however, the driver began driving northbound in the southbound lanes at speeds up to 103 miles per hour. Officers followed and radioed ahead to warn Franklin County. Officers on the highway were able to stop traffic, first at the 183 mile marker, but as the man continued, they stopped traffic as far north as the 194 mile marker. The vehicle crossed back and forth between lanes before his tires blew. He drove through a fence line and into a field near Stafford road where the vehicle caught fire.
From there an officer was able to catch up with the suspect and detain him on the scene around the 194 mile marker near a tree line. Fire units from Wellsville Fire and LOH were called to the scene to control a grass fire that started by the burning vehicle. A female passenger in the car was also detained; however, she was released. Two ambulances were dispatched to the scene, the male suspect was transported to Advent Health Ottawa with unknown injuries. KOFO will provide more detail on this incident as the become available.
