Three people were arrested after a high-speed chase in western Nebraska ended with a car on fire

SIDNEY, Neb. (KOLN) – A high-speed chase in western Nebraska ended in dramatic fashion early Thursday morning when a fleeing car burst into flames, igniting live ammunition inside and spreading the fire to a nearby field, according to the Nebraska State Police State Patrol.

At 1:05 a.m., a police officer in Sidney attempted to stop a silver car, but the driver fled east on Interstate 80 at speeds of up to 130 miles per hour, according to state police.

The driver exited I-80 and headed back toward Sidney after using the median to turn around. Another police officer used stop sticks, but the car continued driving. Eventually there was a tactical vehicle intervention in which the car came to a stop in the ditch, where all three occupants were arrested.

Officers noticed smoke coming from the vehicle, which soon caught fire, the patrol said. Live ammunition reportedly began exploding in the car as the fire spread to a nearby field north of the Walmart area. Sidney police and firefighters responded and extinguished the fire.

The three suspects, all from Sterling, Colorado, were arrested on drug and weapons charges.

The driver, 32-year-old John Harmon, was arrested for fleeing to avoid apprehension and possession of a weapon during the commission of a felony. Passenger Kyrie Riggle, 38, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance (meth). Dakota Schrecengost, 22, was arrested for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and had an outstanding warrant.

Click here Subscribe to our daily digest of 10/11 NOW and breaking news delivered straight to your email inbox.

Copyright 2024 COLOGNE. All rights reserved.