Larry Fink, 57, of Vian was transported to Sparks Regional Medical Center in Fort Smith, Ark., after he led a chase from Sallisaw to east of Roland on the interstate.
Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) Troop C Commander, Capt. Bill James of Sallisaw, said the chase and wreck occurred shortly after 3 p.m. Thursday. James said a sheriff's deputy tried to stop Fink, who was driving a 1987 Honda Civic east on the interstate, when Fink refused to stop.
The OHP joined in the chase and performed a Tactical Vehicle Intervention, or TVI, James said. He explained that during a TVI the OHP maneuvers their vehicles during a chase into a position in which they can bump the chased vehicle on the back corner, causing it to spin out of control.
"The maneuver is used during pursuits to prevent injuries to other motorists," James said. "In this case it caused the driver to lose control and spin across the median into the semi tractor-trailer."
The truck driver was not injured, James said.
Fink was clocked at 95 miles per hour at one point during the pursuit. James said the pursuit started near Sallisaw and continued to about one mile west of Roland before OHP troopers were able to stop Fink.
The OHP is investigating the pursuit and crash, James said.
