An Eau Claire woman is accused of trying to flee officers on various city streets. At the end of the incident her tires were gone, and she was driving on four rims.
Keri A. Burr, 38, 529 Germania St., is charged in Eau Claire County Court with felony counts of second-degree recklessly endangering safety and attempting to elude an officer, and an ordinance violation of drunken driving.
Burr is free on a $5,000 signature bond and returns to court June 4.
As conditions of bond, Burr cannot drive, drink alcohol or enter taverns.
According to the criminal complaint:
Eau Claire police were sent to LaSalle Street and Declaration Drive at 9:20 p.m. Friday, April 18, on a report of a car driven by an intoxicated woman that was crashing into several vehicles.
An officer arrived at the scene and didn't find the suspect vehicle or any damaged property or vehicles.
Moments later police dispatchers got a report of an intoxicated driver in a gold Chevrolet Impala traveling west on the North Crossing from Hastings Way.
The driver of the vehicle later was identified as Burr.
Officers intercepted the vehicle, which had fresh damage and was driving on two flat tires, at Old Wells Road and the North Crossing intersection.
Burr was traveling about 30 to 35 mph and had two vehicles following her car with their flashers activated.
An officer pulled behind Burr's car and activated his emergency lights and siren, but Burr did not stop.
Tire debris was flying into traffic from the passenger side of the vehicle.
Burr's vehicle weaved between both westbound lanes on the North Crossing and eventually exited onto southbound North Clairemont Avenue.
The pursuit was at speeds significantly lower than the posted speed limit.
Tire deflation devices were used at the traffic lights at the North Crossing and North Clairemont Avenue intersection. An officer got out of his squad car and approached Burr's vehicle when it stopped at the red light. But Burr began driving again and nearly struck the officer.
Burr drove around spikes that were placed on Clairemont Avenue.
Officers were eventually able to deflate Burr's remaining two tires at the Truax Boulevard and Clairemont Avenue intersection.
The car was driving on four rims when it reached Folsom Street. Sparks were flying wildly as Burr revved the engine, and the rims ground on the pavement.
Burr's car finally stopped after it turned left onto Folsom Street.
Burr was arrested and seemed to have no comprehension of the event.
Burr had difficulty maintaining her balance and had a strong odor of intoxicants on her breath.
Several cans of beer were open inside the vehicle.
A breath test showed Burr's blood alcohol level was nearly three times the legal limit for driving.
If convicted of the two felonies, Burr could be sentenced to up to 6 1/2 years in prison.
Copyright 2014 - The Leader-Telegram, Eau Claire, Wis.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
