Man Drives Car Off Cliff Near Crows Nest Creek Following Police Chase

TOM GREEN COUNTY — At 6:45 p.m. Saturday evening,  Runnels County Sheriff's Office deputies received information regarding a reckless driver driving at a high rate of speed north of Winters on highway U.S. 83. 

The  driver drove through Winters before he lost the chasing officers, but as the driver drove between Hatchel and Ballinger, a Runnels County deputy came across the driver again. A vehicle pursuit ensued. 

The chase reached speeds between 97 to 110 miles per hour. The chase led officers through Ballinger where two police officers and another Runnels County Sheriff's unit joined the chase. 

According to a nearby witness, the car then took the old pavement of highway U.S. 67 and fled down the old roadway before running through a fence belonging to Hudson Feed.

After going through the fence, Sheriff Carl Squyres said that the car drove through the pasture and then shot off a cliff into the bed of Crows Nest Creek where it landed upside down, facing the opposite direction of travel,, and caught fire. The truck landed an estimated 150 yards away from the drop off.

As the car landed, a small fire occurred causing half of the truck to be fully engulfed in flames. Fortunately, the driver of the car, identified as a Kevin Wheeler from Clyde, Texas, was not in the car during the vehicle fire. 

For an unknown reason, Wheeler was outside of his vehicle when deputies arrived on scene. It is unknown if he was ejected from the vehicle.

Pictures of the vehicle reveal it to be a Chevrolet Silverado Z-71 pickup. The pickup entered the creek's ravine from the right (east) in these pictures. The truck's nose is facing east.

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Above: Chevy pickup that law enforcement was chasing after the crash (LIVE! Photo'Joe Hyde)

Wheeler was transported to a local San Angelo hospital. Should Wheeler not need extensive medical treatment, Squyres stated that Wheeler will be transported back to Runnels County.

Wheeler will be charged with Evading Arrest in a Vehicle, a felony offense. It is currently unknown why he began driving recklessly. No other vehicle was involved, but Wheeler did put other citizens in danger.

Miles Volunteer Fire Department, Quail Valley Volunteer Fire Department, Department of Public Safety (DPS) Officers, and Runnels County Sheriff's Office Officers all responded to the scene. 

DPS will continue to investigate the accident itself. Runnels County Sheriff's Office will lead the investigation of the reckless driving and evading law enforcement in a motor vehicle.