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High Speed Chase in Harbor Country Nets Stolen Rental Car

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After learning that a stolen rental car was headed towards Harbor Country along westbound I-94,  Michigan State Police troopers assigned to the Fifth District Homeland Security Team launched an investigation, and found the car and its driver headed west along the interstate near Lakeside Road at milemarker #6 in Chikaming Township around 4pm Tuesday.

Once the troopers confirmed that the vehicle and plate were stolen, they tried to get the driver to pull over for a traffic stop, but he refused to do so, which then led to a high-speed pursuit.

Troopers continued to pursue the stolen vehicle several miles until they say the driver appeared to deliberately crash into the guardrails on the right shoulder of the roadway near Lakeside Road.  The impact of that collision caused the driver to lose control, cross back over three lanes of traffic and come to a stop after colliding a second time into the median cable barrier.

Michigan State Police say that their preliminary investigation has revealed the vehicle was reported stolen by Enterprise Rental to the Waterford Township Police Department back in March after the driver failed to return it.  The driver, a 66-year-old man from Farmington, Michigan, suffered non-life-threatening injuries but was taken to Spectrum Health Lakeland in St. Joseph for medical care. He was later discharged from the hospital around 9pm last night with unknown minor injuries, and State Police say that charges will be sought against him for Fleeing & Eluding and Receiving & Concealing Stolen Property.

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A copy of the report has been forwarded to the Berrien County Prosecutor’s Office for review and various charges, and the investigation remains open.

Troopers were assisted at the scene by Chikaming Township Fire Department and Medic One Ambulance.