Rough road breaks sheriff's ankle after chase
Staff writer
Sheriff Rob Craft broke his ankle and will need surgery after stepping into a pile of gravel on Remington Rd. at the end of a brief high-speed chase Monday.
April Fore, 32, Peabody, was driving a 2011 Toyota RAV-4 in the 500 block of S. 3rd St. in Marion when police chief Clinton Jeffrey spotted what appeared to be an expired license plate on her car. When he radioed in the license plate, the car came back with expired registration to James Williams, Marion. Fore also had a suspended driver’s license, Jeffrey said.
When Jeffrey tried to stop her, she drove south on Sunflower Rd., turned west on 170th Rd., then south again on Remington Rd.
Craft and deputies joined the chase, as did a Hillsboro police officer who had been coming to Marion for an unrelated reason.
“She didn’t really start running until she turned onto 170th Rd. and accelerated rapidly,” Jeffrey said. “I think the entire pursuit lasted about 1½ minutes.”
Remington Rd. had a row of large gravel about three inches deep down the center, Jeffrey said. Jeffrey thought that contributed to Fore losing control of the Toyota.
County engineer Brice Goebel said a road grader had been blading Remington Rd. when the accident happened.
“I believe she came up on someone and tried to go around,” Jeffrey said.
The Toyota rolled and came to rest on its driver’s side in a ditch.
When Craft got out of his car and stepped into the gravel, he turned his ankle and fractured it.
Undersheriff David Huntley said a sheriff’s office employee took Craft to Newton Medical Center for treatment.
“He’s awaiting surgery,” Huntley said Tuesday.
It’s not known how long Craft will be off work.
Fore was taken by ambulance to St. Luke Hospital.
“I assume she was treated and released,” Jeffrey said.
Instead of citations being issued, a report will be given to the county attorney, Jeffrey said. Recommended charges will include fleeing and eluding police, driving with a suspended license, driving with no registration, and failure to have proof of liability insurance.
Last modified June 3, 2020