By OLIVIA BERGMEIER
Salina Post
An unknown suspect reached speeds of 123 mph while evading Salina Police officers on Broadway Avenue early this morning.
At 2:35 a.m., a police officer patrolling in the area of South Broadway Boulevard and West Walnut Street saw a 2009 silver BMW 328i acting suspiciously. As the officer flashed his lights to interact with the individual, the suspect took off, reaching 86 mph in a 40 mph zone on Broadway Boulevard.
Seeing the vehicle driving recklessly, the officer decided to discontinue the pursuit and radio to the station for assistance.
"The officer wisely decided he's not going to chase this vehicle — it was too dangerous," said Sergeant Kyle Tonniges from the Salina Police Department.
After an undescribed amount of time, the officer found the same silver BMW traveling east on Beverly Drive.
The suspect failed to stop at a stop sign and turned northbound on Broadway Boulevard, leading to another pursuit to begin.
"The vehicle proceeded over the viaduct and continued to accelerate and got up to a speeds of 123 miles per hour on North Broadway," Tonniges said.
The officer again decided to terminate the chase after seeing the vehicle's excessive speed but found the suspect again a few minutes later at the intersection of North 10th Street and West Lincoln Avenue.
When the officer began the second chase, the vehicle reached speeds of 86 mph traveling west on Lincoln Avenue through stop signs at 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, and Reynolds streets, then turned back on Broadway Boulevard after ignoring its stop.
"A short time later, the vehicle was located in a front yard in the 1400 block of Haven — the driver was nowhere near the vehicle, which struck a mailbox, trash carts and a white Nissan Rogue," Tonniges said.
Tonniges said they are considering multiple suspects but do not have one strong suspect at this time.