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Published on April 23, 2024
Erratic Driver Rolls Pickup Truck During High-Speed Chase in Wright County, Alcohol Use SuspectedSource: Google Street View

A high-speed chase on the streets of Wright County came to a dramatic end when a 1999 Dodge Dakota pickup truck rolled over during an attempt to flee from deputies. The pursuit began late on April 21st when a deputy responded to a report of a motorist driving erratically around 10:25 PM in the City of Otsego, according to the Wright County Sheriff’s Office.

Upon locating the vehicle, the deputy tried to make a traffic stop by activating emergency lights, but the driver chose to quickly speed away instead. The chase continued southbound on Hwy 101 to St. Michael, where the suspect's vehicle made contact with a deputy's cruiser on the off-ramp of 45th ST. NE, as per the Wright County Sheriff’s Office. This collision caused the suspect's pickup truck to overturn, leading emergency personnel from the St. Michael Fire Department to respond to the crash site to extricate the driver.

The driver, identified as Corey Pratt, a 44-year-old from La Crescent, Minnesota, was airlifted to Regions Hospital with injuries from the incident. Pratt’s condition following the crash was not immediately disclosed. At the crash scene, deputies found indications that the driver may have been under the influence of alcohol, raising the likelihood of impairment playing a role in the erratic driving and eventual crash.

Further probing into the event is ongoing. Evidence of alcohol use has prompted a deeper investigation into Pratt's behavior before the chase ensued. Officials are yet to determine the full extent of the consequences the driver will face from this incident, as reported by the Wright County Sheriff’s Office.