Delano Herald Journal

Serving the communities of Delano, Loretto, Montrose, MN, and the surrounding area

Motor home chase ends in rollover



A driving complaint near Hutchinson led to a foot pursuit,
high-speed chase, and vehicle roll-over Sunday night, Dec. 8.

Ronald Eugene Christensen, 34 of Lake Crystal, was stopped
by a state trooper while driving near the intersection of Highway 7 and
McLeod County Road 1, based on the complaint near Hutchinson, and observations
made by the trooper.

Upon being pulled over, Christensen fled on foot. He had
an outstanding warrant for his arrest in Nicolett County.

“He ditched the car near Made on Earth near Lester
Prairie,” said State Patrol Lieutenant Scott McConkey. “Attempts
to locate him there were unsuccessful.”

Christensen found his way to the Lester Prairie area, where
he stole a 1979 Brougham motor home, owned by Daniel LaMott of Lester Prairie,
from a storage shed at 19405 McLeod Co. Rd. 9.

Christensen was traveling in the motor home on County Road
9 when Deputy Aaron Wiemiller observed him doing speeds of approximately
70 miles per hour, crossing the center line three times, and also weaving
in its own lane, according to the criminal complaint.

Wiemiller attempted to pull him over, and Christensen fled.
The vehicle ran a stop sign at US Highway 212, and proceeded towards Glencoe
with Wiemiller in pursuit.

Near Morningside Drive in Glencoe, Christensen was involved
in a rollover accident when a police officer used his squad car to stop
the vehicle and end the chase. The motor home was totaled, and Christensen
was taken by ambulance to Glencoe Hospital, then airlifted to Hennepin County
Medical Center (HCMC) to be treated for injuries sustained in the crash.

“He was unconscious, bruised up, and sore from the
accident,” said McLeod County Chief Deputy Mark Taylor. “You worry
about head and back injuries, but nothing has been found so far.”

He has since been released from HCMC and is currently in
the McLeod County Jail awaiting sentencing.

“He is currently recovering from his injuries,”
McLeod County Sheriff Wayne Vinkemeier said. “The hospital felt he
didn’t need to stay there.”

Christensen was previously arrested in 1992 for a motor
vehicle theft, and that criminal complaint shows that he had at least four
similar offenses prior to that arrest.

The Lester Prairie Police, Winsted Police, Minnesota State
Patrol, Glencoe Police, and Glencoe Fire Department all assisted in apprehending
Christensen.

He has been charged with fleeing a peace officer, which
carries a penalty of three years and one day imprisonment and/or a $5,000
fine, and theft of a motor vehicle, which bears a maximum sentence of five
years imprisonment and/or a $10,000 fine.

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