Driver leads cops on hour-long chase across 3 counties

By ALEXANDER SIMONE

Staff writer

A Colorado man evaded multiple law enforcement agencies for an hour, crossing three counties after he began a high-speed chase that started around 1 p.m. Sunday in Marion County.

The driver, Christopher Medina, crashed a 2003 Ford F-350 between 2 and 2:10 p.m. near Humboldt Rd. and K-157, but not before reaching speeds as high as 95 miles per hour and driving on the opposite side of the road at various times in the chase.

The incident reportedly began with complaints of Medina driving all over the road on US-77 north of 170th Rd., then reversing direction and driving at 40 mph down the highway, according to police transmissions. Sheriff Rob Craft confirmed that Medina had been driving well below the speed limit, not typical of how high-speed pursuits start.

Medina began fleeing sheriff’s deputies near Florence on US-50 headed toward Chase County, and by 1:21 p.m. a deputy in pursuit reported being as far as Alfalfa Rd. on US-50, with the fleeing driver going 94 mph. Assistance from Chase County law enforcement was requested, even as the chase bled onto K-150 and continued east. Marion County deputies turned the pursuit over to Chase County law enforcement near Elmdale, by which time Kansas Highway Patrol began driving to the scene.

Medina finally was stopped when he crashed on K-177 near Humboldt Creek Rd. in Geary County, KHP state trooper Ben Gardner said.

Troopers attempted to drive Medina off the road during the pursuit, but Gardner was unsure whether that caused the crash.

Medina was arrested on suspicion of fleeing law enforcement, possession of stolen property, driving with a suspended license, and reckless driving.

There was no indication that Medina was under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance, Gardner said.

“I know we charged with four things,” he said. “If there was alcohol or impairment of some type that would need to be charged, and I don’t see that in our charges.”