DUI Suspect Leads Idaho State Police on GTA Style Pursuit

On Tuesday afternoon, Idaho State Police were called out to reports of a reckless driver on a Northern Idaho highway.

According to reports of what followed, it sounds like a real-life enactment of a video game happened.

Idaho State Police started getting calls of a dangerous driver on US Highway 12 in Nez Perce County a few minutes after noon on Tuesday, August 12th. Troopers found the vehicle, a red Toyota RAV4, heading west on the highway and attempted a traffic stop.

The driver failed to comply and sped off.

While fleeing the police, the driver circled back multiple times on the highway, driving into oncoming traffic at times, to elude the police. I imagine it played out similar to this famous police chase from Orange County (minus the Benny Hill music).

To protect other drivers on the road, police used a PIT maneuver to stop the RAV4 near mile marker 307. The PIT caused the car to spin out and crash, and the vehicle caught fire.

Police were able to contain the flames quickly and arrest the driver ‘without further incident’. The driver also refused medical attention, but officers determined that his blood alcohol level was over twice the legal limit.

Officers also believe the driver was wanted for felony domestic battery prior to the chase, and, due to the chase, will be facing other charges, including:

• Felony Eluding
• Excessive Driving Under the Influence
• Concealing a Firearm While Intoxicated
• Open Container of Alcohol

Idaho State Police will continue to investigate the incident.