A high-speed pursuit spanning two counties ended south of Elmore City last week with both the suspect’s vehicle and a Chickasaw Lighthorse unit upside down in a creek bed.
The chase began in McClain County in the early morning hours of Dec. 9, when a Chickasaw Lighthorse officer observed a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed run a stoplight at State Highway 74 and State Highway 39 in Purcell. The officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop but the vehicle’s driver, Jerimy Laxton, refused to stop and a pursuit was initiated.
Laxton was driving at speeds in excess of 100 mph, entering the opposite lanes of travel numerous times during the pursuit, as she continued south on State Highway 74.
Elmore City Police Chief Johnny Denney said he was contacted by dispatch around 4:30 a.m. to alert him the pursuit was headed his way and asking if he could deploy stop sticks. Denney was able to deploy the stop sticks on the highway at the north end of town before the vehicles passed through.
Laxton’s vehicle and the Lighthorse unit continued through Elmore City on Highway 74 before both left the roadway and crashed into a creek bed at the intersection of Highway 74 and County Road 1655.
The Lighthorse officer was able to free himself from his vehicle and secure the scene with assistance from Denney, who called for Elmore City Fire and EMS assistance. The Elmore City Fire Department had to extricate Laxton from her vehicle.
Laxton only sustained minor injuries in the accident. The Lighthorse officer was uninjured.
The Garvin County Sheriff’s Office, Wadley Wynnewood EMS and Oklahoma Highway Patrol also assisted with the accident scene.
Chickasaw Nation prosecutors have charged Laxton with eluding an officer and driving under the influence. Laxton was arraigned on Monday and bond was set, but she remains in custody.
