A man is in critical condition after leading a Johnson County Sheriff’s deputy on a high-speed chase and crashing into a concrete barricade just outside of the New Century AirCenter early Thursday.
“Around midnight, a deputy witnessed a vehicle run a red light at U.S. 169, nearly hitting oncoming traffic while driving westbound on 159th Street,” Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Kristen Boxman told the Post in an emailed response to questions. “The vehicle was traveling at high speeds and did not have headlights on.”
Boxman said the deputy caught up with the vehicle on westbound 159th Street near Interstate 35 and attempted to make a traffic stop for driving without headlights, speeding, the traffic light violation, and failing to yield for law enforcement.
“The vehicle did not stop, continued westbound on 159th, and reached speeds of more than 100mph,” Boxman said. “The deputy continued the attempt to pull the vehicle over.”
Boxman said the fleeing driver crashed at 159th Street and North Loop Road, and the driver was ejected in the crash.
Olathe Fire and Johnson County Med-Act were dispatched at 12:02 a.m. for an injury crash at 159th Street and North Loop Road, on the northeast corner of the New Century AirCenter.
Westbound 159th Street makes a sweeping 90-degree turn to the north and becomes North Loop Road about 3 miles west of Interstate 35. Concrete barricades are in place just outside of the curve to prevent vehicles from continuing straight and onto airport property.
Recorded radio traffic from arriving firefighters reported that the SUV was engulfed in flames and one person was on the ground.
With the assistance of two Olathe firefighters, Johnson County Med-Act paramedics transported the adult driver to an area trauma center in critical condition.
A sheriff’s office sergeant near the scene confirmed to the Post that the sheriff’s office would be investigating the crash.
Officers from Olathe and Gardner assisted with traffic control near the crash scene.
As of late Thursday morning, no updates were available regarding the injured man’s condition.
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