Madisonville police charge woman following high-speed pursuit

The Madisonville Police Department has charged a woman with numerous offenses, following a high-speed pursuit Friday in Madisonville.

According to the police report, officers were patrolling on Interstate 69 Friday afternoon when a vehicle made an abrupt lane change, nearly clipping a truck traveling the same director. That vehicle then reportedly behaved erratically before exiting the interstate at Exit 116 without using a turn signal.  Officers attempted to pull the vehicle over, but that’s when the driver reportedly fled.

It got back onto the interstate, reaching speeds of near 100 miles per hour and nearly clipping several vehicles during the pursuit. The vehicle ran over spike strips near the 126-mile marker before heading north in the southbound lanes—it eventually became inoperable in the median.

The driver of the vehicle, later identified as Damien Rush, attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended. Rush reportedly admitted to drinking and that there were narcotic needles in the vehicle. They were located, along with a bag of suspected meth, following a search.

Rush was arrested and charged with first-degree wanton endangerment, first-degree fleeing or evading police, second-degree fleeing or evading police, reckless driving, possession of meth, possession of drug paraphernalia and several traffic violations.