A Sidney woman was arrested on drunk driving and child endangerment charges early New Year’s Day following a high-speed chase through Sidney by a Nebraska State Patrol trooper.
Patrol spokesman Cody Thomas says the trooper was on patrol in Sidney about 2:10 AM when they were nearly rear-ended by 27-year old Karla Fernandez, who was driving an SUV.
When the trooper went up to the SUV to speak with Fernandez, they detected a strong odor of alcohol and saw a child in the backseat.
The trooper attempted a traffic stop to conduct a DUI investigation, but Fernandez refused to comply and instead accelerated and fled on residential streets at speeds of about 50 mph with the trooper in pursuit.
Fernandez eventually headed west on Hwy 30 with the chase continuing until she ran out of fuel and the SUV came to a stop
Troopers were able to take her into custody without incident and found two young children in the backseat without car seats or seat belts.
Fernandez was lodged in the Cheyenne County Jail on charges of child endangerment, flight to avoid arrest, and driving under the influence of alcohol with a blood-alcohol level over .15. The children were placed with family members.