At approximately 12:11 p.m. on Thursday, November 3, a Wisconsin State Patrol inspector attempted to stop a vehicle traveling westbound on US 12/18 (Beltline) near Monona Drive for speeding and driving in the closed Flex Lane. The driver refused to stop and the inspector pursued the vehicle.
During the pursuit, a Madison Police Department cruiser was traveling westbound near South Towne Drive. The vehicle being pursued rammed the Madison Police Department cruiser on the rear driver side of the vehicle, then struck the State Patrol cruiser. The driver of the pursued vehicle ran away and attempted to carjack a taxi driver parked at a nearby business. Officers apprehended the suspect shortly after.
The Madison Police Department and State Patrol cruisers sustained significant damage as a result of the crash. Two officers in the Madison Police Department cruiser sustained minor injuries and were treated at a local hospital. An inspector and trooper in the State Patrol cruiser sustained no injuries, but were seen at a local hospital as a precaution.
As a result of the crash, three lanes of the westbound Beltline were closed for approximately four hours. The Dane County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the crash, with assistance from the Wisconsin State Patrol Technical Reconstruction Unit.
This incident occurred during a Dane County law enforcement agency joint initiative to locate stolen vehicles, but the vehicle being pursued was not reported stolen.
