Man charged in Maries County following multi-county chase

MARIES COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man was charged in Maries County with two felonies and a misdemeanor following a multi-county chase on Monday.

Jacob Pitucha was charged with aggravated fleeing causing physical injury, first-degree property damage and misdemeanor driving while revoked. He is being held at the Maries County Jail without bond. A court date has not been set.

According to a social media post from the Maries County Sheriff’s Office, the chase began in Crawford County by the Bourbon Police Department. Pitucha allegedly drove more than 100 miles per hour and drove off the road, through private property and at one point drove in the wrong directions on Interstate 44, the post reads.

Maries County deputies joined the chase at the Highway 68/63 interchange, the probable cause statement says. Spike strips were placed three times by law enforcement throughout the chase, court documents say.

Pitucha drove off the road to avoid the first set of strips and the chase ended after he eventually crashed into a patrol vehicle at 66 miles per hour while avoiding a third set of strips, court documents say.

The crash caused $15,000 in damage to the patrol vehicle, the statement says.