A stolen pickup tore through Lawrence at up to 70 mph Thursday night before the driver bailed out and left the truck rolling backward into a police cruiser. An officer jumped clear, tackled the fleeing driver and made the arrest, turning a dangerous chase into an even stranger crash scene.
The incident began around 9:30 p.m. Thursday near 6th and Wisconsin, when a white Chevrolet Silverado nearly struck a Lawrence Police Department patrol vehicle. According to KCTV5, an officer tried to stop the truck, but the driver headed west on 6th Street and reached speeds of roughly 70 mph.
Lawrence police said in an official Facebook post that officers ended the pursuit near 6th Street and Lawrence Avenue. The driver got out and ran, but apparently left the Silverado in reverse; the truck then struck a patrol vehicle while the officer moved to stop him.
The Truck Was Already Tied To Another Crash
The officer was able to tackle the driver and take him into custody, according to KCTV5's report. Police later determined the Silverado had been reported stolen and that the driver had hit another vehicle before the chase began.
No one was seriously hurt, officials said, although the patrol vehicle had to be towed from the scene. The officer involved reportedly stayed on duty and continued the shift after the cruiser was removed.
Another Close Call For Lawrence Officers
The crash follows two other recent Lawrence incidents in which patrol vehicles were struck or nearly struck. In June, three officers narrowly avoided injury when a Jeep slammed into a cruiser blocking traffic on I-70, The Kansas City Star reported.
Earlier that month, a 17-year-old was arrested after allegedly driving head-on into a Lawrence patrol vehicle following a separate series of collisions, according to KCTV5. Thursday night's case adds a stolen vehicle, an alleged DUI and a high-speed pursuit to the city's recent run of patrol-car crashes.
Driver Booked On Multiple Felony Allegations
The driver was booked into the Douglas County Correctional Facility on multiple felony allegations, including driving under the influence. Initial reports did not identify the driver's name or provide a complete list of formal counts.
Being booked or arrested does not establish guilt, and the case will proceed through the Douglas County court system. Additional charging information and court records may clarify the allegations in the coming days.
