High speed chase ends with no injuries

* This article has been updated Aug. 25 to include the information run in the Aug. 26 article "Driver receives several additional citations" https://www.seeleylake.com/story/2021/08/26/news/driver-received-several-additional-citations/7716.html

SEELEY LAKE – "Stay off the roads!!!" was the post on the Seeley Lake Neighborhood Watch page just before 4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 13. The post continued warning of cops in a high-speed chase with a "white car" headed into the Double Arrow. While the driver eluded law enforcement initially, just after 7 p.m. Missoula County Sheriff's Office Deputy Heath Hanson caught up with the white Ford Taurus which traveled onto 210 feet onto private property on Cedar Lane before rolling over. Neither of the two occupants were injured and no property was damaged. Munoz clarified that the crash was not the result of a high-speed chase.

Hanson said he received an initial complaint of bad driving around 3:50 p.m. Friday, Aug. 13. He sought out the car to pull it over, identify the driver and warn them.

When he initiated the oncoming traffic stop on Black Bear Drive, the driver failed to yield and "clearly hit the gas instead of the brake." Hanson had to turn around before pursuing the white Ford Taurus. By the time he was out in the open, the driver was driving "way too fast" on Black Bear and they made a left onto Whitetail Drive, headed into the Double Arrow.

"It was fast speeds and it wasn't safe at that time," Hanson said explaining why he didn't pursue them any further. "They were far enough ahead of me." Hanson said.

Hanson put out the word to local law enforcement regarding the vehicle.

Around 7:15 p.m., Hanson received another call about the same vehicle coming down Airport Road headed towards the highway. The caller stayed on the line and continued to provide updates to Hanson as the car turned up Tamarack Drive and then headed down Cedar Lane.

Hanson turned off Highway 83 onto Cedar Lane. He put on his top lights and blocked the road with his vehicle so they couldn't speed past him and elude him again. The car slowed and took a hard left onto private property at 219 Cedar Lane where the car traveled more than 200 feet before making a sharp turn causing the vehicle to roll over. The two occupants, both from the Seeley Lake area and in their 20s and 30s, were not wearing restraints. Hanson detained them until Munoz arrived.

"It wasn't even really a pursuit, they were just headed off road at that time," Hanson said. "They clearly decided they weren't going to stop and they were going to try and elude me again but it didn't work out for them."

Hanson cited the driver with several misdemeanors including eluding a peace officer from earlier in the day, reckless driving, attempted eluding that evening and trespassing on the private property. Because they were misdemeanors for a non-violent crime, neither the driver nor passenger were arrested.

"It was poor decision making on the driver's part but luckily we caught them before someone got hurt," Hanson said.

Munoz said neither of the two involved in the accident were impaired. He issued four citations: no seat belt, no driver's license, displaying plates assigned to another vehicle and no proof of insurance. The vehicle was not registered to either of the occupants.

Munoz said, "No impairment, no stolen vehicle just someone that doesn't yield to emergency lights."

No arrests were made. Seeley Lake Volunteer Fire Department personnel also responded.