Authorities in Lyon County have confirmed the arrest of two individuals following a police chase that resulted in a sheriff’s deputy vehicle being struck and overturned in a ditch during the Unbound Gravel Bike Race.
On Saturday morning, law enforcement officials from the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office were managing traffic in the vicinity of the cycling event. At approximately 5:55 a.m., a Chevrolet Silverado operated by 32-year-old Kaitlynn Mundell from Emporia failed to adhere to traffic signals and proceeded through the intersection at Road J and Road 240 without reducing speed. An officer tried to pull over the car, but it sped away heading east. Law enforcement chased the car to the intersection of Road 250 and Road S, where it reversed direction and disregarded a stop sign.
The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office reports that this marks the end of the chase. Instead, deputies started to strategically place themselves to block the vehicle from accessing the bike race path.
Mundell reversed the truck’s direction and headed east, encountering three deputies along the way but not stopping. Mundell proceeded south along Highway 99 heading towards Emporia.
The sheriff’s office reported that, considering the high volume of pedestrians and bicycles in Emporia at that moment, they opted to implement measures to disable the truck.
A deputy positioned themselves in front of the truck on N. Highway 99, aiming to reduce its speed. A truck tried to overtake a deputy by going into a ditch, but as it emerged, it collided with the deputy’s vehicle, causing it to slide into the ditch and overturn. The car came to a stop on its wheels after tumbling over.
Mundell pressed on, steering the vehicle in the direction of Emporia. Authorities from Lyon County and Emporia Police persisted in their search for the vehicle, locating it at approximately 6:24 a.m. at the intersection of 8th Ave. and Merchant St. Two patrol vehicles surrounded the truck.
Mundell and Preston Ashburn, 42, from Emporia, declined to leave the vehicle as a passenger. Authorities intervened and apprehended them.
Mundell and Ashburn have been taken into custody at the Lyon County Detention Center. Mundell is facing serious allegations, including aggravated battery against a law enforcement officer, possession of a controlled substance, and several traffic violations. Ashburn is facing allegations related to hindering legal proceedings and having illegal drugs in their possession.
The deputy who was part of the rollover incident was transported to the hospital with minor injuries and was discharged shortly thereafter.
