HOT SPRINGS - A driver led Hot Springs police on a slow pursuit through several city streets before finally being apprehended Wednesday afternoon.
Peggy King, 37, whose address was not immediately known, was facing multiple charges after the incident, which began around 2 p.m. when she rear-ended another vehicle at the corner of Grand and Central avenues, Hot Springs police Sgt. J.E. Mann said.
King was northbound on Central in a 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix when she struck the back of a 2003 Ford Mustang that was stopped at the traffic light, he said. She backed up and fled when the occupants of the other car started to approach her, Mann said.
Police units were arriving at the scene when she fled west on Grand to Prospect Street and then headed north on Central as officers began pursuing her.
She never went more than 25 to 30 mph the entire chase,Mann said, "She just simply refused to stop."
Just prior to reaching Orange Street, King veered into the oncoming lane and nearly struck a police car head-on, he said.
King turned onto Orange Street and continued back to Prospect, where two officers attempted to stop her, getting out of their cars and approaching her vehicle with guns drawn.
"She accelerated and nearly ran over both of them," Mann said. She continued to flee as other police cars joined the pursuit, driving north on Quapaw back around to Prospect and then back to Central.
At the corner of Prospect and Central, King drove in front of a 1987 International 2 1/2-ton truck, police said.
The truck, driven by Steven Garner, struck her vehicle, which went under the bed of the truck. Her car was dragged about 50 yards, finally stopping when she struck a parked 1996 Infiniti,owned by Deanna Rund.
After the collision, King's vehicle was "pinned in," Mann said, but she continued to accelerate forward and then in reverse trying to get out for several minutes.
"She had to be physically removed from the vehicle and taken into custody," he said, noting King was extremely intoxicated or impaired.
King was charged with driving while intoxicated, refusal to submit to tests, careless and prohibited driving, no insurance, driving on a suspended driver's license, leaving the scene of an accident, felony fleeing, and at least one count of aggravated assault.
Mann said the vehicle King was driving had been stolen out of Garland County and the Garland County sheriff's office would be filing a theft of property charge. Additional criminal charges may be filed as the investigation into the incident continues, Mann added.
Arkansas, Pages 16 on 10/26/2007