Man Dies In Police Chase After Fleeing Scene Of Austin Homicide
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A 46-year-old Oakdale man died Friday when his car flipped over during a high-speed police chase.
Investigators believe it all started after a murder in Mower County.
"A neighbor here in Austin called 911 shortly after 3 a.m. (Friday) after hearing some yells for help outside the home," said Austin Police Chief Brian Krueger.
That caller told the operator what he saw after hearing screams that woke him out of his sleep.
"The caller reported seeing what he thought appeared to be a body lying on the ground in front of the home, and a tall male leaving the scene," Krueger said.
Minutes later, Austin police made it to the 500 block of 4th Street NW to see a car speeding away. Cops followed the car and got a little help from sheriffs' deputies as the car made it to the highway.
"The State Patrol, Mower County, Freeborn County, and Waseca County Sheriff's Office all joined in with this pursuit ... at times speeds reached 130 miles per hour," Krueger said.
The chase went for 50 miles, from the city of Austin, through Mower County, Freeborn County and up Highway 13 into Waseca County.
Troopers deployed stop sticks just south of Waseca and backed off of their pursuit.
The driver, who wasn't wearing a seat belt, hit the sticks, lost control of the car, flipped into a field, and was ejected.
He died at the scene.
Investigators do believe the homicide and fatal high-speed chase are connected, but they are not saying exactly how.
Police have not released a motive for the murder, and this is the first homicide in the city of Austin this year.
Police will release more information once autopsies have been completed and family members have been notified.
