LACROSSE, Wis. — A high-speed police chase ended when the pursued driver went airborne and cashed into gas pumps at the large Kwik Trip convenience store on George Street in on the Far Nort End. There was no explosion. Bystanders pulled Andrew D. Hermes, age 25, from the wrecked car. Then he ran. Police gave chase pn foot and arrested him. Thus was about 8:40 a.m. The charges: Fleeing police, jumping bail, and recklessly endangering safety. In the crash, police said, Hermes almost hit one bystander. Debris flew into a pickup truck at one gas pump and caused serious damage. The chase began near the Menards mega-store two miles away on Lang Drive. Speeds reached 80 mph on city streets, police said. Hermes’ white Mercedes missed the curve from George Street to West George Street. The vehicle struck a curb, sailed over a retention pond, and bounced airborne again before striking the gas pump and a canopy strut. Once caught, Hermes explained that “El Chapo” was after him, police said. It didn’t make much, the officers said. Paramedics took Hermes to a hospital to be checked over for injuries, which appeared minor, and to confirm whether officers were correct in their suspicion that he was high on medications, drugs or alcohol. There was no doubt he was confused and disoriented, they said.
Mangled tangle. After car crash-landed into a Kwik Trip gas pump following two aerial bounces at a North End curve in La Crosse. Driver had neem clocked at 80 mph.
Hermes. Banged and bruised at jail booking.