Police pursuit ends in crash, critically injuring driver

Posted: September 4, 2012 - 3:49am
Updated: September 4, 2012 - 4:17am

The Kansas Highway Patrol is investigating following a high speed vehicle pursuit which ended when the suspect's vehicle rolled twice.

Troopers say the pursuit started on southbound Interstate 35 near College Boulevard and continued southbound through Olathe. The pursuit came to an end after the suspect lost control, first leaving the highway into the center median then over correcting, crossing all lanes of traffic. The vehicle then traveled up and back down an embankment, finally the vehicle rolled twice, pinning the driver inside. Troopers say the crash occurred at 11:47 p.m..

Initial reports to Operation 100 News indicated that pursuing officers reported speeds of more than 100 miles per hour and reaching 130 miles per hour at one point. Pursuing officers reported "very light" traffic conditions throughout the pursuit, according to recorded scanner audio.

As a result of the crash and investigation that followed, all southbound lanes of Interstate 35 were closed at Lone Elm Road. Fire crews from Johnson County Fire District No. 1 responded to the crash scene and reported one vehicle involved with "very heavy damage." Rescue crews worked for about 10 minutes to extricate the injured driver from the wreckage.

The driver of the vehicle has been identified as, 26-year-old, Christopher A. Moore of Shawnee, Kansas. A source familiar with the crash confirms to Operation 100 News that Moore was critically injured in the single vehicle crash and transported to an area hospital for treatment. Troopers have also confirmed that they do not believe that Moore was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.

As of this report there has been no confirmation as to which agency initiated the vehicle pursuit or what charges Mr. Moore was facing when the pursuit began.

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