Speeds exceed 100 mph on I-80
The pursuit of a stolen vehicle that began on I-80 in York County last Tuesday ended abruptly near the Aurora exit (332) when the stolen 2024 Nissan Altima crashed into the back of a semi truck shortly after 4 p.m.
Lt. Alex Hildebrand of the York County Sheriff’s Office says shortly before 4 p.m. the agency had received a report of a vehicle having been reported stolen to Council Bluffs, Iowa, authorities at about 2:30 p.m. that day.
About five minutes after getting the report, Hildebrand said a York County deputy spotted the vehicle headed westbound on I-80 and began his pursuit which at times was at speeds over 100 mph.
As the chase continued into Hamilton County, police scanners in Aurora began picking the deputy’s calls to dispatch starting when the vehicles were at about mile marker 338 east of Aurora. At one point the deputy reported that deadly force had been used by the driver of the stolen vehicle and road spikes had been deployed but the suspect vehicle had missed them. Moments later the deputy reported that the pursued vehicle had crashed into a semi trailer just west of Exit 332.
The deputy went on to radio dispatch that the car’s airbags had deployed and the driver appeared to be unconscious. An ambulance and wrecker were called and, after being extricated from the vehicle, the 17-year-old boy who had been driving the car was transported to CHI St. Francis Hospital in Grand Island with non-life threatening injuries.
Because the suspect is a juvenile, no names have been released and charges against him are unknown at this time.