Vehicle Pursuit

May 15, 2008
Contact: Lt. Brian Hayes Phone: (608) 284-6155 Email: hayes.brian@co.dane.wi.us
Sheriff's Office

At approximately 8:05 p.m. Dane County Deputies initiated a vehicle pursuit on River Road near State Highway 19 in the Town of Vienna. Deputies were in the area after Waunakee Police reported a reckless driver leaving their village. A vehicle description and license plate number was aired. A short time later Deputies located the vehicle traveling southbound on River Road passing into oncoming traffic. The driver forced several vehicles off the roadway, including a deputy who was traveling northbound. This deputy attempted to stop the vehicle as it continued eastbound on to Highway 19 from River Road. A vehicle pursuit was initiated when the driver refused to pull over. A few minutes later the driver lost control of his vehicle causing it spin out in the area of Highway 19 and Stevens Road, Town of Windsor where the pursuit ended. The driver, Peter L. Pratsch, age 25 of Sun Prairie, was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries. He was tentatively charged with Eluding and will be cited for Reckless Driving, Passing Into On Coming Traffic, Failure to Stop at a Stop Sign, and Operating a Motor Vehicle with a Suspended Driver’s License.