Saturday chase ends in wreck, one woman injured

A young woman from Linn County was injured in a vehicle chase and rollover following a pursuit by local law enforcement authorities late Saturday night.

About 11:30 p.m. Saturday, Fort Scott Police Department officers were patrolling in the area of Wall and National when officers spotted a vehicle with no tail lights. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle for the violation and it fled, traveling east to Broadway, FSPD Capt. Shaun West said.

The vehicle, a 2004 Ford Taurus, then turned south onto Broadway and continued to fail to yield to the officer in pursuit.

At the corner of Broadway and Charles streets, the driver lost control of the vehicle and struck a fire hydrant. The driver was able to free the vehicle from the hydrant and continue eastbound, once again refusing to yield for the officer. Near the area of 240th Street and Limestone Road, the driver once again lost control of the vehicle and it crashed and rolled, West said.

The driver, whose name was not released due to her age, was found near the vehicle and taken into custody for driving violations that included driving without a license and fleeing to elude, West said.

She was also transported to Mercy Hospital.

"She's been charged," West said. "The (Bourbon County) Sheriff's Office handled the accident report and we're handling the criminal report."

The young female was processed through juvenile intake and was to be "either released or taken to (Southeast Kansas Regional Juvenile Detention Center in) Girard or other facilities," West said.

She was released by FSPD officers at Mercy Hospital to her parents, he said.