An Iowa State Patrol pursuit that began near Avoca a little after 10-a.m., Thursday, ended with the suspect losing control of the vehicle, which ended up in a cornfield just outside of Woodbine. Pursuit of the black Dodge Durango with what was believed to be occupied by two black males, began on eastbound on Interstate 80 near Avoca, after the driver refused to stop for a speeding citation. According to Iowa State Patrol Trooper M.J. Kober, the vehicle exited the interstate and proceeded northbound on Highway 59 into Shelby County. Kober said the trooper lost sight of vehicle, but it was later seen in Harlan.

According to Kober and a press release from the Iowa State Patrol, as the vehicle entered the south side of Denison, it turned onto Highway 30. Numerous officers attempted to deploy stop sticks during the pursuit, all of which were unsuccessful. From Denison, the suspect traveled south through Dow City and Dunlap and, at approximately one mile east of Woodbine, the Durango went off the road to the left, struck a corn field and came to a stop in the ditch.

One male subject was placed under arrest. The driver suffered injuries during the accident and was transported to CHI Missouri Valley Hospital, then later to Mercy Hospital in Omaha. Law enforcement on the scene did search the cornfield for a possible second suspect, but Kober said no one was found in the field.

Assisting the Iowa State Patrol were: Harlan police , the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department, Denison Police, the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department, Iowa DOT Enforcement, Iowa DCI, Woodbine Police, Woodbine Fire and Rescue, Harrison County Conservation and the ISP Air Wing.

The investigation is ongoing.