High-Speed Chase, Crash Leads To Recovery Of Stolen Van
EDINA, Minn. (WCCO) -- A high-speed chase on a busy Twin Cities highway leads police to a handicap accessible van that was stolen nearly two weeks ago.
A motorist spotted the stolen van Tuesday afternoon on Highway 62 and 34th Avenue South and started following it and called police.
That's when officers say the driver took off. Minneapolis Police started to chase the van for several miles. The Minnesota State Patrol took over near Highway 62 and Tracy Avenue.
They used a maneuver to stop the van and it rolled into a ditch. At the same time, the car that started following the van was still behind it and was hit in the crash as well. A passenger in that vehicle was transported to the hospital for a shoulder injury.
Michael Buhl showed up to the scene because he said the van belongs to his brother, Larry Buhl, who is in a wheelchair.
Larry Buhl said he knows the driver who stole his van. Police arrested David Johnson at the scene, an acquaintance of the family.
"Out of desperation he took some money and my vehicle ... I knew it was him," said Michael Buhl. "It could be worse. He could have killed innocent people trying to outrun them, at least no one hurt that is the good thing."
Larry Buhl talked to WCCO on Feb. 3 when he told us he needs the van because it's wheelchair accessible. He calls is his other set of legs.
"He says to him 'I took the van and your money because you accused me of stealing.' And I said 'That really makes a lot of sense. Now you really stole,'" Larry Buhl said two weeks ago.
The phone next to Larry Buhl's bed kept ringing after two of his friends spotted his stolen van.
"Followed him all the way down the freeway while the police were pursuing him," said Buhl.
Buhl says his friends stayed about a block back from what he called a high-speed chase.
It was the Patrol that used a maneuver to stop the van. It rolled into a ditch after hitting Larry's friends who were following behind.
"All I know is we saw the van sliding sideways at us and right before impact it straightened out and hit our car head on," said Larry's friend Jay.
Larry's friends were a little banged up, but will survive.
Larry Buhl doesn't know if this van can be driven now. The van was brought to a tow yard in South Minneapolis.
Police said Johnson he has a long history of DWIs and fleeing from police. He didn't have a license.
