Man accused of leading Mid-Missouri law enforcement on a chase is arrested after driving off 80-foot cliff

OSAGE BEACH, Mo. (KMIZ)

Missouri troopers arrested a man accused of leading multiple law enforcement agencies on a chase late Tuesday night.

MSHP said Darrell Matlock, 33, of Warrenton, was arrested behind a home in Osage Beach after driving off an 80-foot cliff.

MSHP Troop F spokesman Sgt. Scott White said Fulton police tried to pull Matlock over after allegedly stealing gas. Troopers said the truck Matlock was driving was reported stolen in January.

Holts Summit officers and Jefferson City police officers started chasing Matlock on Highway 54 westbound around 9:30 p.m. White said the police departments stopped chasing Matlock near the intersection of Highway 54 and Highway 17.

MSHP said troopers picked up the chase again on 54 West near Eldon around 9:50 p.m.

White said Troopers set up spike strips on the highway near Osage Beach. Matlock apparently blew out multiple tires after driving over the deflation devices White said.

Matlock continued driving on Highway 54 and eventually drove off an 80-foot cliff. The MSHP crash report shows the truck overturned when it hit the road below. White said Matlock got out of the truck and ran from the scene.

Troopers called a helicopter to assist in finding Matlock. White said Matlock was spotted on a thermal imaging camera behind a home on El Terra Drive in Osage Beach.

White said Matlock was taken to the hospital with moderate injuries. A spokeswoman with Lake Regional Hospital said he was in fair condition on Wednesday.

Matlock faces a felony charge of tampering with a motor vehicle in Miller County. Online court records show his bond was set at $25,000.