01-03-2025
High-speed chase in Mitchell ends in crash, arrest of 67-year-old man
Feb. 28—MITCHELL — A high-speed chase Thursday night in the Mitchell area ended with a crash and the arrest of a 67-year-old man.
According to the Davison County Sheriff's Office, at approximately 10:45 p.m., a deputy traveling on South Dakota Highway 37 observed a Mazda RX-8 approaching at a high rate of speed. The vehicle passed the deputy at 115 mph in a 70 mph zone, prompting the deputy to initiate a traffic stop. However, the driver allegedly fled the scene, turning onto North Harmon Drive and continuing at high speeds through a residential area.
Due to the vehicle's failure to maintain its lane and dangerous speeds, the deputy terminated the pursuit for safety reasons. A short time later, officers found the vehicle again and attempted another traffic stop. The driver again refused to stop, according to the sheriff's office.
The report from the sheriff's office says officers did not chase, and the vehicle eventually left the roadway at the intersection of Ohlman and National Guard Road, crashing into a tree.
The driver, identified as Steven Rath, of Mitchell, was transported to Area Queen of Peace Hospital with minor injuries. Following the investigation, Rath was arrested and booked into the Davison County Jail on multiple charges, including a sixth-offense driving under the influence (DUI), eluding law enforcement, driving with a revoked license, no proof of insurance, open contain in the vehicle and failure to wear a seat belt.
