Man leads police on freeway chase

By BRIAN WALKER

Staff Writer

POST FALLS — A male driver led police on a chase early Monday morning on Interstate 90 before crashing the car and fleeing on foot.

"Troopers are still working to identify the driver and suspect," Idaho State Police Lt. Chris Schenck said on Monday.

The pursuit began during a traffic stop near I-90 and U.S. 95 in Coeur d'Alene around 2:23 a.m., Schenck said.

A trooper initiated a traffic stop for an alleged exhaust violation and no license plates on the 2001 Saturn.

The driver headed westbound on the freeway into Post Falls, with speeds reaching 85 mph.

"The vehicle was spiked (with strips) by another trooper and crashed later," Schenck said.

The car crashed near milepost 2 between McGuire and Pleasant View roads.

The man fled the scene on foot into the Suntree RV Park, 350 N. Idahline Road, on the north side of the freeway, according to Post Falls Police.

Post Falls Police was not directly involved in the pursuit, but assisted with K-9 Andor in an attempt to track the suspect. However, tracking was later called off as several people came out of their homes in the park during the pursuit.

Schenck said based on the initial investigation, it appears the vehicle was registered out of state. He said there was a passenger inside the car.

Schenck said he didn't know if any illegal materials were found inside the car.

No other details on the incident were released on Monday. An investigation continues.