Search For Driver Wanted In High Speed Pursuit
EAGLE COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4)- Deputies in two counties searched for the driver wanted in a high speed pursuit that reached speeds of more than 100 mph.
Just after 1 a.m. on Sunday, State Patrol officers tried to stop a car in Summit County when the driver sped away at more than 100 mph.
That's when a man called 911 claiming he was a taxi driver and the passenger pulled a gun on him and would not let him pull over. The taxi driver said he was driving a fare from Denver to Grand Junction and the firearm caused him to drive erratically.
Authorities with the Eagle County Sheriff's Office, Vail Police Department, Avon Police Department, Eagle Police Department, Colorado State Patrol and Colorado Department of Transportation worked to locate the suspect vehicle.
Officers found the car at the Grizzly Creek Rest Area along Interstate 70 in Glenwood Canyon. It was abandoned and the suspect is believed to have run away.
Investigators said the vehicle had items on all of the seats which indicated there could not have been a second occupant in the vehicle which eliminated the possibility of a gunman forcing the driver to flee from law enforcement.
The vehicle registration showed the driver of the vehicle was Matthew Lohner, 34, of Parker.
Lohner has multiple arrest warrants from several different counties throughout Colorado. He is wanted in Eagle County on charges of vehicular eluding, reckless endangerment, reckless driving and false reporting.
Additional Information from Eagle County:
If you come in contact with this suspect do not approach him. Please contact law enforcement by calling 911 immediately. If you think you may have any information about the suspect or this crime, please call the Eagle County Sheriff's Office at (970) 328-8500 or Eagle County Crime Stoppers at 970-328-7007, 1-800-972-TIPS, submit your tip online at www.tipsubmit.com, or text a tip from your cell phone by texting STOPCRIME plus your message to CRIMES (274637). If your tip leads to the arrest and indictment of any suspect involved, you could earn up to a $1,000 reward from the Crime Stoppers.
