AirWing Takes Pursuit to the Skies

(LINCOLN, Neb.) — A 44-year-old Colorado man was arrested Thursday after leading Nebraska State Patrol troopers on a pursuit that reached speeds exceeding 110 mph on Interstate 80 and continued through northeast Lincoln.

According to the Nebraska State Patrol, troopers received a report shortly after noon Nov. 5 of a Chevrolet Impala involved in a hit-and-run crash on I-80 near Lincoln. The vehicle reportedly struck the rear of a trailer before continuing eastbound at a high rate of speed.

A trooper spotted the vehicle around 12:15 p.m. and attempted a traffic stop, but the driver accelerated and fled. The pursuit continued onto southbound 56th Street, where the trooper discontinued the chase because of safety concerns in high-traffic areas.

Another trooper later spotted the vehicle speeding eastbound on Highway 6 and attempted another stop. The driver again refused to pull over, prompting the Nebraska State Patrol AirWing to take over tracking the vehicle from the air.

The vehicle traveled toward Waverly before turning around and heading back into Lincoln. During the pursuit, the driver allegedly threw a firearm from the vehicle near Highway 6 and 98th Street. Troopers later recovered the weapon.

AirWing pilots tracked the vehicle to the area of 71st and Douglas streets, where it stopped. The driver exited and began walking away before troopers arrived and took him into custody without further incident.

James Bernard, 44, of Thornton, Colorado, was arrested on suspicion of flight to avoid arrest, willful reckless driving, possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibited person, possession of a deadly weapon while committing a felony and possession of a controlled substance, along with other charges.

The pursuit lasted approximately 12 minutes, according to the State Patrol.