By Shereen Siewert
UPDATED, 9:07 a.m. June 28 — One person is in custody following a high speed chase that ended when the driver crashed into another vehicle, police said Friday.
The chase began on Hwy. 51 with a wrong-way driver that fled police, eventually turning eastbound on Hwy. 29 before leaving the highway and crashing his SUV. A portion of Weston Avenue between Birch and Anderson was blocked off following the crash, which happened Thursday afternoon in Rothschild.
Marathon County Jail reports show 23-year-old Amos Wodora, of Hatley, is in custody on preliminary charges of fleeing an officer, operating under the influence/causing injury, hit and run, and a probation violation. Court records show Wodora was released from prison, where he served about a year for an earlier charge of fleeing an officer, less than two months ago.
Rothschild Police Chief Jeremy Hunt said passengers in the vehicle struck by the suspect were injured but are not hospitalized as of Friday morning.
Wodora, who is on a probation hold, is due in court at 2 p.m. Friday for an initial appearance. Official charges have not yet been filed.
Wausau Pilot and Review will provide an update when a complaint is filed. See the original story, published Thursday, below.
An apparent wrong-way driver on Hwy. 51 in Rib Mountain crashed in Weston Thursday, according to multiple witnesses.
Readers tell Wausau Pilot and Review they observed a silver SUV traveling north in the southbound lanes of the highway before spinning around to veer off on Hwy. 29, with police in pursuit.
A short time later, a portion of Weston Avenue was blocked off between Birch and Anderson with a major police presence. Witnesses report seeing a silver SUV in the ditch and a heavily damaged vehicle in a nearby yard.
This is a developing story. Additional information will be added as it is released.
