A Fulton County pursuit that began with reports of erratic driving in Astoria ended with a suspect’s vehicle crashing into a ravine and catching fire near Rushville, according to the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies were traveling eastbound on East Broadway Street in Astoria around 11:56 p.m. Monday when they spotted a blue SUV heading westbound, driving onto the curb and sidewalk. Dispatch had already received several calls, including a 9-1-1 call, about the vehicle’s erratic driving, according to the sheriff’s office.
When deputies attempted to stop the vehicle, it continued west on West Broadway before turning onto U.S. Highway 24. A pursuit began, with the vehicle reaching speeds near 100 mph while continuing to drive erratically, the sheriff’s office said. During the chase, deputies learned the vehicle was also connected to a hit-and-run in Canton.
The vehicle traveled through Rushville and crashed through a fence into a bean field, according to the release. The driver continued trying to flee near the intersection of County Highway 1 and U.S. Highway 67, where the vehicle wrecked into a ravine.
The driver was identified as Morgan A. King, who was taken into custody at the scene. King’s vehicle then caught fire and produced large amounts of smoke; deputies used a fire extinguisher to put it out, the sheriff’s office said.
King refused medical treatment from Schuyler County EMS and was transported to the Fulton County Jail.
Charges filed
According to the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, King faces seven charges:
- Aggravated fleeing/eluding (625 ILCS 5/11-204.1)
- Failure to yield to an authorized emergency vehicle (625 ILCS 5/11-907)
- Speeding over 35 mph above the posted speed limit (625 ILCS 5/11-601.5(b))
- Improper lane use/wrong side of the road (625 ILCS 5/11-708)
- Driving in the wrong lane (625 ILCS 5/11-701)
- Reckless driving (625 ILCS 5/11-503)
- DUI, drugs or combination of drugs (625 ILCS 5/501(a)(4))
