100 MPH Chase Ends in Morning Crash on I-90, Intoxicated Driver in Stolen Vehicle
Missoula Police were involved in a high-speed chase at around 4:15 a.m. this morning, November 8. According to Missoula Police Public Information Officer Travis Welsh, the pursuit began after an officer noticed the vehicle swerving between lanes on Orange Street.
"A Missoula Police officer attempted to stop the vehicle driving erratically, on North Orange street, just underneath the interstate,' Welsh said. "Rather than pull over to the side of the road and stop, the vehicle continued up on the interstate, where it attempted to drive away, westbound the officer soon learned that it had been reported stolen in Great Falls."
Officers report that the vehicle's speed rose and fell erratically, sometimes climbing up over 100 miles-per-hour.
"Missoula county sheriff's Deputies joined the MPD in the pursuit which continued west-bound till right around mile marker 82, just west of the Ninemile exit," Welsh said. "The driver was an adult female that appeared to be intoxicated at the time."
26-year-old Julianna Frank was taken to the hospital after crashing the vehicle into a median. Police say she tried to drive off after the crash, but the vehicle was compromised. She is under guard at St. Patrick Hospital with minor injuries and cited with Felony Theft, Reckless Driving, DUI and Eluding a Peace Officer among other charges. She already had a felony warrant out for her arrest in Missoula, likely stemming from an incident in May where she was charged with felony robbery after attacking an employee while stealing liquor.