A chase through Howell at speeds approaching 100 mph ended by the Genoa Township Kohl’s at about 2:45 p.m. Tuesday, July 2, when a 60-year-old Fenton man, driving a truck he stole in Ingham County, hit a car head-on. The driver was taken into custody by the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office and the Michigan State Police.
The incident began earlier in the day in Ingham County, and the suspect, who was taken to Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, will was released to the custody the Ingham County Correctional Facility on several felony charges.
The incident began just before noon when Ingham County 911 received several calls reporting a reckless driver in a light green, older-model Ford Crown Victoria traveling at a high rate of speed, weaving between motorists and passing vehicles on the shoulder along I-96 and U.S. 127.
At about 12:45 p.m., Ingham County Sheriff Scott Wriggelsworth responded to southbound U.S. 127 when he received reports of the suspect traveling north in the southbound lanes. Wriggelsworth spotted the vehicle traveling recklessly northbound, as did other Ingham County units.
The suspect failed to stop for emergency lights and sirens and fled from deputies from northbound U.S. 127 to eastbound I-96. The suspect was alone in the vehicle, and deputies ended the chase near Williamston Road when it became too dangerous as the suspect nearly caused crashes.
The suspect was located by another Ingham County deputy at I-96 and M-52, where he exited southbound and refused to stop for the deputy. Due to the suspect’s dangerous driving, the pursuit was again terminated, and the suspect was last seen driving south on M-52 near Holt Road.
At 1:30 p.m, Ingham County 911 received a report of a white male forcibly entering a home in the area of M-52 and Milner Road in Leroy Township. The female caller said the man threatened to kill her and demanded the keys to her vehicle; he left in the woman’s older-model, white GMC pickup truck.
Police units in the area located the man in the stolen truck heading north on M-52, approaching I-96. Ingham County deputies attempted to stop the man in the stolen truck; however, he fled north to Grand River Avenue and then east through Webberville.
Ingham County deputies followed the suspect into Livingston County while waiting for assistance from the Michigan State Police and Livingston County deputies. Units from all three agencies tried to stop the suspect in Fowlerville as he fled east on Grand River Avenue. Michigan State Police troopers and Livingston County Sheriff’s Office deputies took the lead; deputies, in the area of Grnad River Avenue and Emmons Road, used stop sticks and flattened two of the truck’s tires, both on the driver’s side. The pursuit continued across Howell Township, through the City of Howell, and into Genoa Township at speeds of nearly 100 mph.
The suspect lost control of the vehicle, spun out near Lawson Drive, going into oncoming traffic, and then hitting a westbound vehicle head-on by Kohl’s. The suspect was transported to Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, where he was released to the custody of the Ingham County Sheriff’s Office to face charges.
In the vehicle that the suspect struck were two teens, ages 19 and 15, who were not injured. They were checked out as a precaution by Livingston County EMS, and they were released at the scene.
The suspect’s green Ford Crown Victoria was located where he abandoned it, a short distance from the Leroy Township woman’s home.
The Ingham County Prosecutor is reviewing the case.
The Livingston County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Michigan State Police Aviation Unit, the Fowlerville Police Department, the Howell Police Department, Livingston County EMS, and the Brighton Area Fire Department.
Check out this amazing video from the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office:
