WEST FARGO (KFGO) – As a West Fargo police officer attempted to stop a vehicle for an equipment violation early Thursday morning, the driver fled southbound on Sheyenne Street to the I-94 interchange, and headed east with police in pursuit.
Police used a PIT maneuver in an attempt to stop the car on the I-94 eastbound ramp, but the vehicle continued fleeing and a passenger fled on foot. The driver turned around and then turned onto 7th Avenue West near the HighRise apartment building where the driver jumped from the moving car. The vehicle came to a stop in the 200 block of 7th Avenue West where a third person was removed from the vehicle, initially detained, and later released without charges.
After a short foot pursuit, the driver, 31-year-old Samantha Hutchinson, of Thief River Falls, was arrested on charges of fleeing in a motor vehicle, reckless endangerment, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving under suspension, and fleeing on foot.
West Fargo firefighters assisted as the damaged car was smoking from under the hood after it was struck during the PIT maneuver.
