squad-damage

Cass County Sheriff’s vehicle damaged during this incident

VALLEY CITY, N.D. (KFGO/NewsDakota.com) A high-speed chase that started in Valley City on the eastbound lane of Interstate -94 and ended east of Casselton early Wednesday, February 14th.

North Dakota Highway Patrol Sgt. Kristjan Helgo says there were three people in the car stolen from Valley City.

While responding, a Cass County Sheriff’s squad vehicle was rear-ended while westbound on I-94.

The Highway Patrol said a Cass County Sheriff’s Deputy was responding to a pursuit on I-94, east of Casselton, ND. The Cass County Deputy was west bound when he learned the suspect vehicle had come to a stop in the median (mm 336) and other officers were conducting a felony stop. The Deputy was in a fully marked Sheriff’s Deputy Patrol Vehicle and had all red and blue emergency lights activated. The Deputy was slowing down as he had come across the stopped suspect vehicle. The Deputy was in the process of entering the median (to assist other officers) when his patrol vehicle was rear ended by a 2023 Toyota Tacoma driven by 31-year-old Abbey Tucker of Fargo. She was cited with failing to yield to an emergency vehicle. No injuries reported.

The Valley City Police Department issued a media release about the initial call for service and what lead to the pursuit in the news release below.

VCPD-News-Release

Around 6:30 a.m., the North Dakota Highway Patrol (NDHP) requested the assistance of the Cass County Sheriff’s Office during the vehicle pursuit.  Around 7:00 a.m., the assisting deputy was traveling westbound on Interstate 94 near mile marker 335, nearing the traffic stop location, and the deputy attempted to maneuver their squad car to get into a position to assist the NDHP.  While the deputy was entering the median, a westbound vehicle struck the back of the Cass County squad car, causing damage.

There were no injuries as a result of the crash, the deputy had their emergency lights activated at the time of the incident, the NDHP is investigating the crash, and the NDHP cited the driver for failure to yield to an emergency vehicle.