Car chase takes out power pole in Bronson
BRANCH COUNTY — Parts of Bronson were without power for several hours Sunday afternoon, Feb. 19, after a car fleeing Branch County Sheriff deputies destroyed a power pole.
Two 23-year-old men from South Bend, Indiana, will be charged with fleeing police and possession of drugs.
Deputy Kevin Butters was following a 2017 red Dodge Charger Hellcat west from Coldwater on U.S. 12. The vehicle had a temporary improper Indiana paper license plate.
At 12:42 p.m., when the deputy turned on his lights and siren, the driver fled west at speeds over 120 MPH toward Bronson with other traffic on the road.
Bronson Police chief Steve Johnson headed east on U.S. 12, intending to put out spike strips to disable the fleeing car. It sped into Bronson before he could get there.
As the driver approached Matteson Street, he attempted to turn south, but his speed was too high. The car hit the Consumers Energy power pole on the southwest corner, hit the two-story brick building, and slid down the side of the building after tearing out some stairs.
The driver and passenger got out and ran east toward city hall and went between it and an apartment building.
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Police followed in a patrol car. Both men gave up near the farmers' market pavilion and were held at gunpoint.
Chief Johnson said it was lucky there was no one on the sidewalk at the time of the chase.
With the traffic light out, four-way stop signs were placed at the intersection for traffic control.
Bronson Fire closed off Matteson Street to keep people away from the taut overhead lines until CE crews could come to repair the poles and restore power shortly before 4 p.m.
Charges are pending, with the courthouse closed Monday for President’s Day.
— Contact Don Reid: dReid@Gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter: @DReidTDR.
This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: Car chase takes out power pole in Bronson. Two arrested.
