CASS COUNTY, Missouri -- A Cass County Sheriff's deputy was pulled from a burning cruiser after it crashed while pursuing a suspect Monday night.
Deputies attempted to stop a grey 2003 Chevy Tahoe for a traffic violation on S. Prospect near East 155th Street around 11:45 p.m. when the driver sped off at a high rate of speed, according to a news release.
During the brief pursuit, the suspect's suspect vehicle and the deputy’s cruiser went off the roadway at a curve in the road, causing the suspect to hit a tree. The deputy’s patrol car also struck a tree before it caught fire.
A second deputy arrived on scene shortly after the crash and pulled the deputy to safety from the burning car.
Officers from Belton Police Department, Grandview Police Department, Kansas City Police Department and Missouri State Highway Patrol responded to the scene to assist and secure a perimeter of the area. A search of the field aided by a Cass County K-9 Team and FLIR equipped UAV from the Sheriff’s Office located the suspect, identified as 36-year-old Charles F. Rice, hiding near the crash scene around 12:30 am.
Grandview and Kansas City Fire Departments arrived on scene to extinguish the fire and treat the deputy and suspect.
The deputy was transported to an area hospital in serious but stable condition and remains hospitalized.
Rice was treated and released from the hospital before being taken into custody.
Charges from the incident are pending and the Missouri State Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.
