COLCHESTER — A police pursuit of a stolen vehicle ended in a collision on Pearl Street in Essex at around 6:57 p.m., resulting in injuries to both drivers involved.
The incident began when a Colchester Police officer noticed a 2012 Nissan Sentra, reported stolen from Burlington on April 11, traveling west on College Parkway near Saint Michael’s College at approximately 6:51 p.m.
After the officer attempted to initiate a traffic stop by activating the patrol car’s blue lights, the driver of the Nissan made a U-turn and fled east on College Parkway, eventually leading into Fort Ethan Allen.
The suspect, later identified as 34-year-old Shauna Francis of Burlington, continued to evade the officer, making several turns within the Fort area before re-entering College Parkway towards Winooski.
The pursuit continued as Francis turned into the Fanny Allen campus of UVM Medical Center, made another U-turn, and proceeded on College Parkway into Essex, where it turns into Pearl Street.
Reportedly, speeds during the chase ranged from 35 to 60 miles per hour.
The chase came to a dramatic end when the stolen Nissan attempted to turn left into the Essex Junction Shopping Center at 87 Pearl Street and struck a 2014 Kia Sorento also turning into the parking lot.
The driver of the Kia, identified as 26-year-old Katie Proper of Colchester, and Francis were both transported to UVM Medical Center in Burlington with non-life-threatening injuries.
Two passengers in the Nissan were briefly detained by police but were later released.
Francis is being held pending evaluation of criminal charges.
Essex Rescue and Essex Junction Fire Department provided assistance at the scene.
Authorities are continuing their investigation into the incident.
