A pursuit of a stolen pickup early Sunday morning in Madisonville ended in Hopkins County with a crash that caused severe injuries to the driver.
Madisonville police Officer Taylor Childress attempted to make a traffic stop on a 1986 Chevy S10 after the driver disregarded a stop sign at Island Ford Road and Whittington Drive at about 2:40 a.m., according to a news release.
The driver, 31-year old Ronald Willis of Madisonville, continued on Island Ford Road in a reckless manner and a low-speed pursuit continued into the county and lasted about 30 minutes.
As Willis entered the intersection of Onton Road and Weldon Road, he left the road and crashed in a field. Willis was flown by helicopter to Deaconess Hospital in Evansville for treatment of his injuries.
A computer check revealed the pickup had been reported stolen shortly before the pursuit began.
Police say criminal charges are pending against Willis following his medical treatment.