WQOW TV: Eau Claire, WI NEWS18 News, Weather, and SportsMan leads police on high speed chase

Man leads police on high speed chase

Eau Claire (WQOW) - A high speed chase sends a Luther Hospital patient back to the hospital.
Investigators say the 19 year old male patient walked out Wednesday afternoon, stole a car out of the parking lot and then took off.  

Altoona police tried to stop him, but after slamming into a squad car, the driver kept going down Highway 12 towards Fall Creek.   Officers used stop sticks to try ending the chase, but the suspect avoided those.   Eventually, the driver was forced into a ditch near Stinson Road and Highway 12 near Augusta.

The driver was taken back to the hospital to be checked out.   He could soon be booked into the Eau Claire County jail.

News 18 will have more on this online and during our 5, 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts.

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Eau Claire County Sheriff's Office press release:

Eau Claire Sheriff's deputies were involved in a pursuit this afternoon that began in the City of Altoona and ended in the Town of Bridge Creek, just outside the City of Augusta.

Law enforcement personnel throughout Eau Claire County were notified shortly after 2:00 PM Wednesday afternoon that a 19-year old male, address unknown, had walked away from Luther Hospital.  Minutes after, a report of a stolen vehicle from one of the Luther Hospital parking lots was called in to Eau Claire Police Department.  The owner of the vehicle being stolen was struck by their car as the theft was taking place.  A description of the car and the driver was broadcast to Eau Claire County law enforcement.

Altoona Police Department happened upon the vehicle on USH 12 in their jurisdiction, and attempted to initiate a traffic stop.  An Altoona Police patrol vehicle was struck during this traffic stop, and a pursuit occurred.  Eau Claire Sheriff's deputies joined the pursuit just east of Altoona in the Town of Washington.

The pursuit continued eastbound on USH 12 with speeds under 80 MPH.  The pursuit went through the Village of Fall Creek and continued east.  Several attempts were made to set up tire deflation devices along USH 12, with the suspect vehicle eventually striking one of the devices.

An Eau Claire Sheriff's Office deputy performed a Pursuit Intervention Technique (PIT maneuver) upon the fleeing vehicle at USH 12 and CTH R, causing the driver of the fleeing vehicle to lose control and enter the ditch. Once in the ditch, the driver continued to attempt to flee, and the PIT maneuver was again initiated, causing the driver to spin around and be boxed in by other patrol vehicles.  An Eau Claire Sheriff's Office patrol vehicle was struck by the fleeing vehicle during this process. 

The fleeing driver was taken into custody and transported to Luther Hospital for medical clearance before transport to Eau Claire County Jail.  No injuries were suffered by anyone as a result of the pursuit.  Charges in the incident will be forthcoming from Eau Claire Police Department, Eau Claire Sheriff's Office, and Altoona Police Department.

Law enforcement agencies involved in the pursuit included Altoona Police Department, Augusta Police Department, the Wisconsin State Patrol, and the Eau Claire Sheriff's Office.