A wild chase on and off the Indiana Toll Road ended with a North Dakota man’s arrest. It happened Wednesday night, Dec. 19, starting near mile marker 92.
A state trooper tried to pull over Joshua McClure, 47, but he gave chase, taking officers all the way to mile marker 72.
He doubled-back, got off at the Notre Dame exit and ran into police stop sticks which flattened his tires.
He then took a swig of whiskey, was cuffed and hauled off to jail on a slew of charges.
The Indiana State Police released the following details about the pursuit and arrest:
Elkhart County-A North Dakota man was arrested for operating while intoxicated and other charges after leading Indiana State Troopers on a pursuit on December 19, 2018.
According to Trooper Aaron Price, he observed a silver 2010 Chevrolet commit a moving violation as it traveled eastbound on the Toll Road just prior to the Elkhart exit at mile marker 92. The Chevrolet exited at the Elkhart exit as Price followed.
Price activated his emergency lights in an attempt to stop the Chevrolet after it passed through the toll booth. The Chevrolet quickly U-turned through the cone lane dividers and rammed through the toll gate and sped back onto the Toll Road, heading eastbound.
As the Chevrolet approached the 95.4 mile marker the driver made another illegal U-turn and headed west. The driver continued westbound at speeds, at times, in excess of 100 miles per hour. As the pursuit approached the 72 mile marker the driver made another illegal U-turn after seeing other police waiting.
The pursuit now headed eastbound, eventually exiting at exit 77. The driver drove around the toll gate and headed towards SR 933. South Bend Police Department and St. Joseph County Police Department had SR 933 blocked and had stop sticks set up that successfully deflated a tire on the Chevrolet. The pursuit safely came to a stop approximately a half mile east of the intersection on Douglas Road.
The driver, identified as Joshua McClure, 47 of Minot, North Dakota, eventually exited the Chevrolet and then reached back into the Chevrolet and took a large drink form a bottle of Fireball Whiskey that he had in the car and was safely taken into custody at approximately 8:53 p.m.
Further investigation found suspected marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and multiple open alcohol containers in the Chevrolet.
After obtaining a warrant McClure was taken to a local hospital to submit to a certified chemical test and then taken to the Elkhart County Jail. McClure faces preliminary charges of Resisting Law Enforcement, Operating While Intoxicated, Operating While Intoxicated-Endangerment, Possession of Paraphernalia, Possession of Marijuana, Reckless Driving, and Disorderly Conduct.