Two people have been arrested after fleeing police, and driving the wrong way on an interstate with five juveniles in the vehicle.
Laurel County Sheriff John Root said deputies spotted a Mercedes-Benz traveling at a high rate of speed on southbound I-75 Monday morning at approximately 9:00. Deputies attempted to stop the vehicle but it fled, exiting the interstate and nearly striking a deputy’s vehicle.
The Mercedes then entered the Hal Rogers Parkway traveling west at speeds over 90 miles per hour. The car crossed the median and began traveling west in the eastbound lanes where it nearly struck a pickup truck head-on, Root said.
The driver proceeded to lose control, with the Mercedes traveling off the road and over an embankment where it struck a culvert.
The driver, 31-year-old Hatli M. Phelps, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was immediately taken into custody. A passenger, 41-year-old Daven D. Allen, also of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, fled on foot and but was quickly taken into custody following a brief struggle, according to Root.
The investigation showed that there were five juveniles in the vehicle, ranging in ages from two- to 15-years-old. It was also determined that Allen was a fugitive.
Phelps was arrested and charged with five counts of felony wanton endangerment, fleeing or evading police (motor vehicle), speeding more than 26 mph over the limit, reckless driving, and two counts of second-degree wanton endangerment of a police officer.
Allen was arrested and charged with fleeing or evading police (on foot), resisting arrest and being a fugitive from another state.
Both suspects were lodged in Laurel County Corrections.
(Headline photo l-r: Hatli M. Phelps with two of the five juveniles in vehicle, Daven D. Allen in police custody, courtesy of the Laurel Co. Sheriff’s Office)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
