A Festus man and woman were arrested following a police chase that started at 7:11 p.m. April 16 in Herculaneum and ended about 15 minutes later, when the driver lost control and ran off I-55 south of Festus, authorities reported.
The 27-year-old Festus man reportedly was driving the car, and the 33-year-old woman was a passenger, Herculaneum Police Chief Mark Tulgetske said
No injuries were reported in the incident, which began at the Buchheit store parking lot, 200 Riverview Plaza Drive, in Herculaneum, Tulgetske said.
“A Herculaneum officer made a traffic stop,” Tulgetske said. “There were two in the vehicle (a 2008 Saturn). They took off south on Commercial Boulevard. At Commercial and Elm, the driver attempted to crash into the police car. The officer avoided being hit.
“At that point, the driver turned (the car) around and went north on Commercial in the southbound lanes to the city of Pevely, passing through Pevely. He passed through Pevely and made a U-turn and went south, back to McNutt and onto I-55 southbound.”
Herculaneum Police continued to chase the Saturn until it ran off the interstate several miles south of Festus, near Hwy. AA, Tulgetske said.
“The vehicle swerved off the road and went down an embankment, striking multiple trees,” he said.
Tulgetske said he did not know the extent of damage to the Saturn.
After the car ran off the interstate, the driver ran away, Tulgetske said.
“Our officer tracked him down and arrested him,” Tulgetske added.
He said the woman did not attempt to flee.
Tulgetske said the woman was wanted on a parole violation and was turned over to St. Francois County authorities, and the man was released pending application for warrants.
Herculaneum Police will seek charges against the man for assault on a law enforcement officer, driving without a license and careless and imprudent driving, Tulgetske said April 19.