Elderly driver nearly causes collisions between Granite Falls and Montevideo Friday

An elderly driver having a medical episode nearly caused collisions between Granite Falls and Montevideo on Friday afternoon.

At about 3 p.m. on August 20, the Yellow Medicine County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call of a silver Pontiac driving on the wrong side of the divided highway out by the Granite Falls Energy Ethanol Plant, heading toward Granite Falls. 

A Granite Falls Police Department Officer was the first one to make contact with that silver Pontiac on Highway 212 near Hardee’s in Granite Falls.  The officer attempted to stop the vehicle near the stop light, but the driver of the Pontiac refused to stop, went through a red light, and continued traveling westward.  The Officer reported he believed the elderly male driver appeared to be having a medical emergency, and the vehicle was continuing to drive all over the road. 

Officers and Deputies joined in on the pursuit. Three of the suspect’s tires were deflated with a spike device just west of Granite Falls. However, the driver continued to drive on Highway 212 toward Montevideo.  Eventually officers were able to box in the Pontiac in enough to slow the vehicle down and force the driver to pull over and stop on Highway 212 near Yellow Medicine County Road 5. 

Responding officers learned the driver was having a medical emergency. The Granite Falls Ambulance was dispatched, and the driver was transported to the Granite Falls Hospital, then by helicopter to an unknown hospital.  The name of the driver will not be released at this time.  

The Granite Falls Police Department was assisted by the Yellow Medicine County Sheriff’s Office, the Upper Sioux Police Department, the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office, the Minnesota State Patrol, and the Granite Falls Ambulance.