Kyle Hopson of St. Louis marked his 20th birthday Wednesday by leading law enforcement officers on a wild chase through Cole, Callaway and Boone counties.
The chase involved Jefferson City Police, Callaway County Sheriff's Office, Missouri Highway Patrol, Fulton Police and Columbia Police.
Hopson was driving a green Dodge pickup Wednesday morning with Kendell Jones, 20, St. Louis, as a passenger when Jefferson City Police tried to stop the vehicle after an accident was reported.
A vehicle license check revealed the truck was reported stolen Monday in St. Louis. Hopson and Jones fled from Jefferson City Police into Callaway County.
"Callaway County received a call from Jefferson City Police at 8:08 a.m. Wednesday and our deputies joined the chase," Callaway County Sheriff Dennis Crane said.
Deputies took over the chase at County Road 318 just south of Fulton, along with a Fulton police officer. Spike strips were deployed just north of Fulton on U.S. 54, but Crane said Hopson managed to drive around them. The chase continued on U.S. 54 east at speeds up to nearly 100 mph.
In an attempt to elude other officers near County Road 210, the suspects crossed a grassy median on U.S. 54 and continued eastbound in the westbound lanes. Officers reported several westbound vehicles on U.S. 54 were forced to take evasive action to avoid the fleeing vehicle.
The suspects then drove off U.S. 54 onto County Road 211, heading toward the parking lot for the Arby's/Gasper's Truck Stop before returning to eastbound 54, then to Interstate 70 West where they headed toward Columbia.
Sgt. Paul Reinsch of the Missouri Highway Patrol said patrol officers deployed spike strips on the highway, but the fugitives again managed to avoid the strips.
As the pickup approached the Lake of the Woods exit, it stalled at the 131.4 mile marker on Interstate 70.
"They basically blew the engine on the pickup," Crane said.
Both men were arrested by Callaway County deputies.
Deputies charged Hopson with felony tampering with a motor vehicle, resisting arrest, leaving the scene of an accident, speeding, and careless and imprudent driving.
As a passenger in a stolen vehicle, Jones was charged with second-degree tampering with a motor vehicle.
Jones is held in Callaway County Jail on a $5,000 bond. The total Callaway County Jail bond for Hopson on the various charges against him is $25,300.