Rapid City, S.D. — A high-speed chase involving a stolen pickup truck ended dramatically Friday morning when the driver lost control, crashing down an embankment near Rapid City Medical Center. The South Dakota Highway Patrol arrested 18-year-old Audriana Eliza Jones of Rapid City, along with two juvenile males, following the pursuit.
The chase began when the owner of the stolen vehicle reported it to Pennington County Dispatch, noting that he was following his truck. Shortly after, a Highway Patrol trooper located the vehicle on Elk Vale Road and attempted a traffic stop. Instead of stopping, the driver accelerated, leading officers through parts of south Rapid City, including Mount Rushmore Road and Skyline Drive.
Spike strips were deployed by a Rapid City Police officer as the chase approached Tower Road, but the driver lost control attempting to avoid them, causing the vehicle to veer down an embankment. Following the crash, two of the truck’s occupants attempted to flee on foot, while the third stayed inside. All three were apprehended and taken into custody.
Jones sustained minor injuries from the crash, but no others were reported. Law enforcement officials are still investigating to determine who was driving at the time of the pursuit, and charges are pending.
The South Dakota Highway Patrol is leading the investigation and will release additional details once the suspects’ roles are confirmed.