Rolla man drowns after weekend pursuit in mid-Missouri

A Rolla man drowned after he crashed his vehicle into a Miller County pond during a police chase over the weekend.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol said it assisted the Miller County Sheriff’s Office with the pursuit that started on Hayes Ranch Road, just east of Eldon, Saturday morning.

Troopers said Zachary E. Lewis, 22, and a woman crashed through three fences before the vehicle plunged into the pond off Kent Road around 7:38 a.m.

The woman was immediately arrested by law enforcement.

The patrol’s crash report reveals Lewis got out of the car, began swimming and refused orders to come to shore.

Two dog teams later found Lewis down on the shore on the other side of the pond, but he went back into the water.

Shortly after, Lewis went under the water and never resurfaced.

Lewis was pronounced dead at 10:25 a.m.

The Miller County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Eldon Police Department, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Moreau Fire Protection District, the Mid-County Fire Protection District and the Miller County Ambulance District.