KANSAS CITY —A woman is in custody after fleeing from deputies and nearly running over a man attending a birthday party.
At 4 p.m. March 15, a sheriff's deputy observed an SUV with a fake temporary tag near 210 Highway and Searcy Creek Parkway, according to a media release from the Clay County, Missouri Sheriff.
Before the deputy tried to stop the vehicle, he also saw the driver run a stop sign and go southbound into the northbound lanes of Searcy Creek Parkway.
The driver eventually corrected, but as the deputy tried to stop the vehicle, it took off at high speed, frequently traveling on the wrong side of the road.
The deputy lost sight of the vehicle near a paintball and laser tag business at 9300 Underground Drive, but a bystander pointed him in the direction the SUV had gone.
The deputy located the SUV crashed in the woods. The deputy couldn’t find the driver, later identified as 48-year-old Katherine A. Donohoe. Additional deputies arrived, and one of them located Donohoe walking on Underground Drive and took her into custody. She had only superficial injuries. The bystander told deputies the fleeing driver almost struck him as he retrieved pizzas from his vehicle for a birthday party.
The SUV swerved, causing it to strike a gate and overturn in the woods. There were many vehicles in the business's parking lot at the time, and thankfully the SUV traveled off the road before striking anyone.
Deputies later learned Donohoe had no valid license. She has now been charged with felony aggravated fleeing from a stop and has a bond of $75,000. She remains in custody in the Clay County Detention Center.