On Friday December 12th, 51-year-old Thomas Patrick Thayer made his initial appearance in Lincoln County Circuit Court. Thayer faces a misdemeanor charge of Operating a Motor Vehicle While Intoxicated-4th Offense and a felony charge of Fleeing/Eluding an Officer.
The charges stem from the evening of November 22nd, 2014, when an officer observed a full-size pick-up truck pass her location at a high rate of speed. The officer activated her emergency lights in an effort to stop the vehicle.
Rather than heed the officer’s effort, the driver proceeded to lead the officer through a maze of city streets at high rates of speed. At times the pick-up’s speed was estimated to have reached 70 mph.
The truck then proceeded east bound on East Main Street, at which point a Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Lieutenant attempted to assist. In his notes, the Lieutenant estimated the truck to be traveling between 80 and 90 mph and also failed to stop upon activation of his patrol vehicle’s emergency lights. As the truck traveled along East Main Street at such high rates of speed, officers and deputies followed but did not attempt to keep pace.
According to further notes from the Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant, the truck continued eastbound and ran through a red light at the intersection of Pine Ridge Avenue and STH 64.
The vehicle then attempted to turn at the STH64/CTH W intersection, traveled down a steep embankment and struck a tree. Thayer was later identified as the driver of the 1999 Chevy truck. According to officer notes, Thayer was extracted from the vehicle and transported to Aspirus Wausau Hospital. Thayer remained hospitalized until Friday, when he was released just prior to his court appearance.
Due to HIPPA regulations, the nature of Thayer’s injuries could not be released. According to the Lincoln County District Attorney’s Office, Thayer also has a valid extraditable felony warrant out of Minnesota but details of extradition have yet to be decided.