Afraid she would go to jail for driving without a license, an 18-year-old allegedly fled from Kalispell Police officers last month and sparked a high-speed chase across Flathead County.  

Lisa Shelly Ohrn faces a felony criminal endangerment charge and a misdemeanor count of fleeing from or eluding a peace officer following the Oct. 8 chase. She was expected to appear before Judge Danni Coffman in Flathead County District Court on Thursday for her arraignment.  

The pursuit began after an officer patrolling North Meridian Road caught a gray Dodge Caravan speeding southbound toward the intersection with Liberty Street, according to court documents. Radar indicated that the minivan was driving at 50 mph or 20 mph above the posted speed limit, court documents said.  

Making a U-turn, the officer hit their lights, intending to perform a traffic stop. Instead of slowing, the minivan allegedly sped south and turned onto West Idaho Steet, ignoring a red light. The Caravan hit 70 mph as it approached the U.S. 93 interchange and ran through another red light before illegally passing a vehicle, court documents said.  

As the minivan passed beyond city limits, the pursuing officer was joined by Flathead County Sheriff's Office deputies. At the roundabout at the intersection of U.S. 2 with Dern and West Springcreek roads, the minivan turned onto the latter and headed north, hitting speeds of 90 mph, court documents said.  

Pursuing deputies reported seeing the minivan speed through stop signs and repeatedly veer into the oncoming traffic lane, nearly causing several collisions.  

The Caravan's route took the chase from West Springcreek Road to Three Mile Drive and then onto Farm to Market Road, passing the intersection with Lost Creek Drive at about 100 mph. The minivan finally turned onto Tally Lake Road where it ended up disabled after crashing into a ditch, court documents said. 

Deputies identified the driver as Ohrn and questioned her at the scene, according to court documents. She allegedly said she didn't stop in Kalispell for fear of ending up in jail because she was driving without a valid license.  

Ohrn also allegedly admitted to driving in the wrong lane, nearly colliding with other vehicles while fleeing the authorities and putting other motorists at risk of injury or death. 

If convicted of felony criminal endangerment, Ohrn faces up to 10 years in Montana State Prison and a $50,000 fine. Misdemeanor fleeing or eluding a peace officer is punishable by up to a year behind bars and a $2,000 fine. 

News Editor Derrick Perkins can be reached at 758-4430 or [email protected].