High speed chase ends in crash
High speed chase ends in crash
| CAPTION: Mark Wilcox/Daily Mining Gazette Law enforcement officials assist at the scene of a two-car vehicle crash on Bridge Street Monday night. After a lengthy high-speed chase, a 29-year-old Laurium man crashed into a barricaded Houghton County Sheriff vehicle. The deputy was not injured. The Laurium man is still a patient at Portage Health. |
By KAYLA GAHAGAN, aDMG Writer
HOUGHTON — A late-night high-speed chase in Houghton ended on Bridge Street in a two-vehicle crash, according to the Houghton County Police Department.
After fleeing from and eluding Houghton City Police, a 29-year-old Laurium man, who will not be identified until he is arraigned in Houghton County District Court, was arrested and transported to Portage Health where he remained as a patient as of press time.
Alcohol was a factor in the incident, according to Houghton police reports.
The driver of the second vehicle, Sheriff Deputy Dan Kowalski, was not injured.
“(Dan’s) alright,” said Houghton City Police Chief Ralph Raffaelli, who assisted at the scene. “He’s shook up a little bit.”
According to police, at about 10:05 p.m., Houghton Police Department officer Nick Roberts witnessed an eastbound vehicle on Sharon Avenue crossing the center line of the road.
Roberts began to follow the vehicle into what turned into a high speed chase, crisscrossing Sharon Avenue, Ridge Road, Frog Pool Lane, Park Street, Calverley Avenue and M-26.
According to the reports, the man drove a gray station wagon at speeds in excess of 70 miles an hour on the primarily residential streets. Roberts eventually let him go.
“We stopped chasing him, we didn’t want anybody to get hurt,” Raffaelli said.
According to the report, the man narrowly missed two pedestrians on Park Street.
Thirteen-year-old Marshall Kemppainen of W. Calverley Avenue was in his yard when he witnessed the chase.
“I saw a station wagon flying through a stop sign near my yard,” he said. “We heard it (sirens) for a while and then we heard it getting louder and louder and louder and then all of a sudden we see this car fly by.”
As Roberts ended the pursuit, Kowalski set up a barricade at Bridge Street. The man collided with Kowalski, attempted to back up and drive off, but the deputy cornered him and an arrest was made. Mercy Ambulance then transported the man to Portage Health.
Raffaelli said none of the Houghton Police Department officers were injured, although there was minor damage to one vehicle.
A report from the Houghton County Sheriff Department was not available.
Raffaelli said he was satisfied with the outcome.
“I’m happy with the performance of my men, they stopped pursuit and saved lives and avoided anybody getting hurt,” he said.
Kayla Gahagan can be reached at kgahagan@mininggazette.com
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