Midwest Freelancer archive article
Fleeing suspect captured after fiery crash
(Published Saturday, Feb. 18, 2006)
By Chris Post/Midwest Freelancer Twice in one day this week, the Missouri State Highway Patrol was involved in a vehicle pursuit that resulted in the fleeing driver crashing.
One chase started around 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16 in Wayne County when a trooper attempted to stop the driver of a Mercury Topaz for a traffic violation.
The driver, 20-year-old Kevin B. Welch, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., led the officer south on U.S. Highway 67. South of Greenville, Welch turned east onto Route F and traveled about three miles before turning into a private drive.
Circling his Topaz around the residence, Welch headed back toward the highway. His escape attempt came to an abrupt end, however, when the car struck a tree and overturned.
As the vehicle burst into flames, Welch ran a short distance and was captured.
On Thursday, Feb. 17, Jon A. Kiser, Wayne County prosecuting attorney, formally charged Welch with class A misdemeanor resisting arrest, class B misdemeanor driving while intoxicated by drugs, class A misdemeanor possession of marijuana and class A misdemeanor driving while license was suspended or revoked.
Wayne County Judge Randy Paul Schuller set Welch’s cash-only bond at $1,250. Welch appeared before Schuller in May 2005 to face a speeding charge. He was fined $55.50 in that case.
In September 2005, Welch appeared before Butler County Judge John Howard Bloodworth, to plead guilty to a charge of driving with a license revoked for points.
Bloodworth sentenced Welch to 90 days in jail, but suspended the execution of the sentence and released him on two years probation. The Highway Patrol was also part of high-speed chase Thursday that resulted in a fatal crash. Read more about that story here.
By Chris Post/Midwest Freelancer Twice in one day this week, the Missouri State Highway Patrol was involved in a vehicle pursuit that resulted in the fleeing driver crashing.
One chase started around 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16 in Wayne County when a trooper attempted to stop the driver of a Mercury Topaz for a traffic violation.
The driver, 20-year-old Kevin B. Welch, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., led the officer south on U.S. Highway 67. South of Greenville, Welch turned east onto Route F and traveled about three miles before turning into a private drive.
Circling his Topaz around the residence, Welch headed back toward the highway. His escape attempt came to an abrupt end, however, when the car struck a tree and overturned.
As the vehicle burst into flames, Welch ran a short distance and was captured.
On Thursday, Feb. 17, Jon A. Kiser, Wayne County prosecuting attorney, formally charged Welch with class A misdemeanor resisting arrest, class B misdemeanor driving while intoxicated by drugs, class A misdemeanor possession of marijuana and class A misdemeanor driving while license was suspended or revoked.
Wayne County Judge Randy Paul Schuller set Welch’s cash-only bond at $1,250. Welch appeared before Schuller in May 2005 to face a speeding charge. He was fined $55.50 in that case.
In September 2005, Welch appeared before Butler County Judge John Howard Bloodworth, to plead guilty to a charge of driving with a license revoked for points.
Bloodworth sentenced Welch to 90 days in jail, but suspended the execution of the sentence and released him on two years probation. The Highway Patrol was also part of high-speed chase Thursday that resulted in a fatal crash. Read more about that story here.