Motorcycle Pursuit Ends in Crash, ONALASKA, October 1, 2023 - At approximately 10:40 pm on September 30, 2023, Sergeant William Land with the Polk County Sheriff's Office attempted to stop the driver of a black Harley Davidson Motorcycle on US-190 West just west of the Livingston City Limits. The motorcycle driver refused to stop and a pursuit was on. Sergeant Land was radioing updates to Sheriff's Office dispatchers as the pursuit continued. The driver was swerving in and out of oncoming east-bound traffic as the pursuit reached over 120 miles per hour. Onalaska Police Officers set up a blockade on the Kickapoo Bridge. Preliminarily, it appears that the motorcycle attempted to slip past a patrol unit occupied by Officer Jamee Davis with Onalaska PD. The driver (Austin Kirby, 25, out of New Mexico) tried to thread a needle slipping past the patrol unit and the concrete bridge railing and it didn't work. Kirby and his female passenger were ejected from the motorcycle over the bridge and landed in the water. Pursuing Officers quickly made their way down to the water to help the couple out of the water. Other Officers with the Onalaska Police Department showed up, Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff's Office, Onalaska Volunteer Fire Department, and Trooper Cotye Lowrie with the Texas Highway Patrol. Trooper Lowrie was assisted by Trooper Wong out of San Jacinto County. The female passenger was transported by ambulance to a nearby landing zone and flown to Conroe Regional Hospital. Kirby and Officer Davis were transported by ambulance to CHI Livingston Memorial Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. All traffic on Kickapoo Bridge was blocked during investigation and cleanup. Austin Kirby is suspected of intoxication in this incident and is likely facing a list of charges. Both vehicles were recovered by George White & Sons Wrecker Service out of Onalaska. This accident remains under investigation by the Texas Highway Patrol.
Special thank you: Ken withKen's TowingandScottie with Country Boy Towing
25 year old Austin Kirby of New Mexico was driving this Harley Davidson Motorcycle when he somehow got into this Crash with Officer Jamee Davis with the Onalaska Police Department.
Kirby is in handcuffs and speaks with Trooper Wong with the Texas Highway Patrol. Kirby is suspected of being intoxicated.
Trooper Cotye Lowrie (center) is the primary accident investigator.
Kirby and his female passenger were ejected forward and to the right when the accident occurred. They landed in thw water of Lake Livingston.
Mixi and Katy were on duty for PolkCountyToday.com.
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