High-speed chase ends as teens flee

Juveniles elude, top 100-mph speed

A high-speed car chase, beginning in Ephrata, Wash., involving a male, 17, and female, 16, and a stolen Ford Taurus, ended in a foot pursuit in Libby in the early hours Thursday.

The male driver allegedly stole his girlfriend’s mother’s car and traveled from Washington to Boundary County, in northern Idaho, before county officials began a pursuit.

The chase continued across the Idaho-Montana border on Highway 2 with speeds in excess of 100 mph.

The Troy Police Department attempted to stop the driver with “stop sticks” to puncture the tires. However, two deflated tires were not enough to stop the driver who continued driving eastbound toward Libby.

After the Taurus crossed the stop sticks, the sticks broke in half. A portion of the stop sticks remained on the road as the Boundary County officers continued their pursuit. The officer’s vehicle tires were punctured by the broken piece, making it impossible for the officers to continue pursuing the suspects.

Troy Police Chief Bob McLeod radioed the Libby dispatch to notify them of the situation. Shortly after midnight, Sheriff’s Deputy and Libby Police Department deployed stop sticks at the west end of town.

The driver turned at California Avenue at an estimated speed of 65 mph. The car collided with a pole in the Aitken’s Quik Stop parking lot and the vehicle came to a stop by slamming in to a snow bank.

The juveniles exited the vehicle to lead officers in a foot pursuit. The female was caught near the crash and later the male suspect was caught near the Dome Theater.

The juveniles were transported to the detention facility in Troy. The female juvenile was released to her mother.

Justice of the Peace Stormy Langston saw the male suspect via teleconference. The suspect is currently detained and awaiting formal charges.