Oregon woman in custody after high speed pursuit on US 12

An Oregon woman is in custody after a high-speed pursuit from Kamiah to Orofino Thursday night on U.S. Highway 12.

Thursday at about 9:09 p.m., a Lewis County deputy attempted a traffic stop on a silver minivan near the intersection of Third and Idaho Street in Kamiah. The vehicle was traveling with no lights on and accelerated to above the posted speed limit as it left the city of Kamiah traveling westbound on US 12, according to Lewis County Sheriff's Office.

The vehicle continued to flee westbound in the eastbound lane of the highway at speeds of up to 78 miles per hour still with no lights on. The vehicle nearly missed collisions with oncoming traffic on multiple occasions. A second Lewis County deputy and a Clearwater County Deputy joined the pursuit near the Greer Bridge and US 12. The vehicle then nearly crashed into the westbound guardrail near milepost 51.

The pursuit then continued until about milepost 44 where Orofino Police Department deployed spike strips at Lewis County's request. After a successful spike deployment, the vehicle slowed to below 15 mph but still did not fully stop until the Clearwater County Deputy performed a low speed pit maneuver and the vehicle was boxed in by OPD, LCSO reported.

The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, Brenna L. Clarke, 29, Oregon, would not comply with orders to step out of the vehicle and was subsequently removed before being taken into custody. Clarke was subsequently charged by Lewis County with Felony Attempting to Elude a Peace Officer and DUI, LCSO said.

No deputies or bystanders received injuries and Clarke was medically evaluated before transport to jail, according to LCSO.

The Lewis County Sheriff's Office would like to thank Orofino Police Department, Clearwater County Sheriff's Office, and the Idaho State Police for their assistance in the safe resolution of this incident.

Several law enforcement agencies were involved in the end of the high-speed pursuit in front of Riverside Cemetery in Orofino. (Photo courtesy of Teri Bolling)