By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

A deputy’s attempt to pull over a speeding driver on US-77 north of Burns at 2:50 a.m. Aug. 18 led to a chase at speeds of up to 110 mph over gravel and dirt roads in Butler and Greenwood Counties.

Sheriff Rob Craft said a dark colored Dodge truck with no visible license plate sped into Butler County before it turned onto dirt and gravel roads.

The pickup left the highway going east, then zigzagged back and forth headed mostly south, but also crossing into Greenwood County before coming back into Butler County.

Two Marion County deputies, a Burns police officer, and Butler County deputies assisted with the chase.

Deputy Joel Womochil, who originally tried to stop the vehicle, gave up pursuing the pickup after he lost sight of it because of dust. He got back to Marion County at 4:08 a.m.

“The deputy did a great job of calling locations and speeds and conditions during the chase,” Craft said.

Butler County deputy Daimon Cundiff said that when a Butler deputy tried to catch up to the pickup, it turned south and its headlights were shut off.

The deputy had to discontinue the chase because of a flat tire.

The truck went eastbound through a series of curves and rural roads before it drove through a fence, Cundiff said. Deputies found the pickup, registered to Lynn Berland, 35, of Abilene, at 3:36 a.m. in a field.

At 7 a.m., deputies found Daniel Lipinski, 32, Abilene, hiding in a dry creek bed. He was arrested without incident.

Deputies said they later learned Lipinski had been driving the pickup during the chase.

At 3:25 p.m., deputies followed up on a report of a person hiding by a pond near where the pickup had been recovered.

Lynn Berland, 35, Abilene, the second occupant of the pickup, was arrested.

Berland was booked into Butler County Jail on suspicion of possession of marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and methamphetamine, interference with law enforcement, and criminal damage to property.

Lipinski was booked into the Butler County Jail on suspicion of possession of marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and methamphetamine, interference with law enforcement, fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, and criminal damage to property.