A stolen car out of Illinois turned a quiet Friday afternoon into a multi-county spectacle on May 8, as a high-speed pursuit that began in Fond du Lac County tore up I‑41 and ended in Winnebago County when deputies intentionally struck the fleeing vehicle to stop it. The car rolled into a ditch and briefly caught fire, and two people from Chicago-area suburbs were taken into custody. Both were evaluated by medical personnel at the scene, and authorities reported no serious injuries. The chase started just after 1 p.m. on I‑41, according to officials.
In a press release from the Fond du Lac County Sheriff's Office, cited by FOX6 News Milwaukee, deputies said they were alerted shortly after 1 p.m. to a vehicle reported stolen out of Illinois traveling on I‑41 near County Road Y. Deputies set up a high-risk traffic stop, and the car initially pulled over. That brief pause did not last. Authorities say the driver took off again, weaving through traffic, blowing red lights and exiting onto State Highway 26 before running through a yard and into a field near County Road Z and Clay Road.
Deputies tried a PIT maneuver to bring the pursuit to a close, but the suspect vehicle reversed and rammed the front of a squad car, according to the release. Another sheriff's unit then intentionally struck the vehicle to shove it off the road. The car rolled, was disabled and later had a fire extinguished after it briefly ignited. The driver, identified as a 23-year-old man from Des Plaines, Illinois, and a 23-year-old woman from Franklin Park, Illinois, were arrested at the scene and booked on multiple charges.
How deputies ended the pursuit
The tactics described by the sheriff's office, including the PIT maneuver and the intentional strike used to stop the car, line up with local pursuit guidelines that treat vehicle-to-vehicle contact as a risky last resort. As laid out in the Fond du Lac Police Department's vehicle pursuits policy, officers are expected to balance the seriousness of the suspected crime against the potential danger to the public. When they decide a chase has to continue, they can turn to tools like channelization, PIT maneuvers or moving roadblocks. The same policy warns that ramming a suspect vehicle is highly unpredictable, carries a high risk of injury and should be used only after other options have been tried or ruled out.
Arrests and charges
Booking information referenced by FOX6 News Milwaukee shows the driver was booked on counts that include fleeing or eluding, two counts of first-degree reckless endangering safety, resisting or obstructing an officer and delivering illegal articles by inmate, which in this case allegedly involved ecstasy pills. The passenger was booked on charges that include fleeing or eluding as a party to a crime, first-degree reckless endangering safety as a party to a crime, possession of THC, possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting and obstructing an officer. The sheriff's release also noted that the driver's Illinois record was flagged for previous weapons and dangerous-drug offenses.
What the charges carry
In Wisconsin, first-degree recklessly endangering safety under Wis. Stat. § 941.30 is treated as a Class F felony, according to state law summaries and rulings such as those published by FindLaw. That classification can carry a maximum sentence of roughly 12½ years and fines up to $25,000 in aggravated cases, depending on how the court applies sentencing guidelines and any enhancements. Fleeing or attempting to elude a traffic officer falls under Wis. Stat. § 346.04(3) and is handled more severely when the driver’s conduct puts officers or the public in danger, as discussed in federal and state opinions analyzing the statute's elements and application, including those collected by FindLaw. How those laws are used in this case will depend on local charging decisions and the review by the Fond du Lac County District Attorney.
Next steps
The two suspects remain in custody at the Fond du Lac County jail while they await arraignment and the possibility of additional charges. The sheriff's office says the investigation is ongoing and will be turned over to the district attorney for formal charging decisions. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Fond du Lac County Sheriff's Office, according to the release.
