by Dennis Dalman
A Sartell driver was arrested Sept. 19 for fleeing a police officer at a high rate of speed and for a charge of third-degree driving while intoxicated.
Kevin Johnstone, 45, was booked into the Stearns County Jail.
At 8:05 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19, a Stearns County sheriff’s deputy noticed a white Dodge Ram pickup going north on CR 1 (Riverside Avenue) near Fourth Street N. in Sartell. The deputy observed erratic driving, with the vehicle veering at times over the center line into the southbound lane of the road.
The deputy started to flash his patrol car lights behind the man’s pickup, but the driver did not stop. He accelerated quickly, reaching speeds of up to 100 mph, the deputy stated in his report.
After fleeing for about one mile, the man lost control of his pickup, and it crashed near the intersection of CR 1 and Coneflower Lane in Le Sauk Township. The vehicle rolled several times.
The deputy spoke with Johnstone, who was still inside the rolled vehicle. He told the deputy he was not injured and that he was the only occupant of the pickup.
The Sartell Fire Department arrived at the accident scene to extricate Johnstone from the vehicle. He was then transported to the St. Cloud Hospital for evaluation of possible injuries. There were apparently no injuries, and Johnstone was then arrested and taken to jail.
The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene of the roll-over by the Sartell fire and police departments and a Mayo ambulance.
