By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY
Salina Post
A Hays man was arrested after a high-speed chase through parts of Salina and southern Saline County early this morning.
At approximately 2 a.m. Monday, an officer noticed a fast-moving white 2008 Dodge Charger headed eastbound on W. Walnut Street in central Salina. The car turned southbound onto S. 12th Street, where the officer clocked the car traveling at 54 mph in a 30 mph zone, Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester said this morning.
When the car turned west onto W. South Street, the officer attempted to stop it, however, the car took off and turned south onto S. Broadway Boulevard, traveling at up to 90 mph in a 40 mph zone, Forrester said. After the car turned onto S. Ninth Street, it reached speeds of more than 100 mph. The Charger continued south out of the city limits on Old Highway 81, traveling at 120 mph, Forrester said.
When the Charger reached the Old Highway 81 interchange with Interstate 135 near Bridgeport, it turned north onto I-135 and reach 131 mph.
Spike strips placed by a Salina officer near the W. Water Well Road exit punctured the Charger's tires, as did additional spike strips placed near the W. Schilling Road exit, however, the car kept going, finally exiting at W. Magnolia Road, where it went east at 60 mph on deflated tires, Forrester said.
The car then traveled on a number of south Salina streets, eventually traveling west on Leslie Avenue. Forrester said it was clocked at the Leslie Avenue-Quincy Street intersection going 15 mph. The Charger then traveled onto Quincy Court, where it became disabled.
The driver, Brandon Cunningham, 40, of Hays, was found to have a revoked driver's license. He was arrested on the following requested charges, Forrester said.
●Felony flee and elude
●Reckless driving
●Felony interference with a law enforcement officer
●Driving while revoked as a habitual offender
●Thirty-eight traffic violations