Stolen Car Crashes Into Home After High-Speed Chase Through Dakota County

Deputies from the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office arrested a 19-year-old Rochester, MN, man early Thursday, after a high-speed chase ended with the car hitting a residence.

Eric Tyler Lee was arrested around 7 a.m. and charged with seven counts including three felonies, three misdemeanors and a petty misdemeanor.

The charges against Lee include: 

• Fleeing a peace officer in a vehicle (felony);
• Criminal vehicular operation of a vehicle (felony);
• Theft (felony);
• Collision with an unattended vehicle (misdemeanor);
• Driving with a suspended license (misdemeanor);
• Driving with greater than reasonable speed (misdemeanor);
• Speeding (petty misdemeanor)

The passenger of the vehicle—a juvenile—was released to parents.  

According to a release from the office of Sheriff Dave Bellows:

The incident started at 4:40 a.m. when a deputy clocked a car traveling in excess of 100 miles per hour going north on Highway 52 south of County Road 46. The deputy attempted to stop the vehicle as it turned onto eastbound County Road 46, traveling toward Hastings.

The pursuit continued on County Road 46 at a high rate of speed. The suspect vehicle drove over "stop sticks" deputies had placed on County Road 46 west of General Sieben Drive, resulting in the deflation of two tires. The suspect continued northbound on General Sieben Drive, turning on to eastbound 15th Street.

A deputy attempted to stop the suspect vehicle using the Pursuit Intervention Technique (PIT) as it turned onto 15th Street. The driver lost control of the vehicle at the near the intersection of 15th Street and Erickson Drive when it left the road, striking a tree and a residence.

Two occupants in the car fled after the crash and a search was conducted. Two individuals were located hiding in a tree a short distance from the crash scene and taken into custody.

It was determined the car, a Pontiac Bonneville, had been reported stolen in Rochester. 

No one in the residence was injured as a result of the crash, however, the home did sustain damage.