Man leads high-speed chase for second time

A Whitefish man was arrested early Sunday morning following a high-speed chase that ended with a wreck on Whitefish Stage Road. It was the second time in two months the man has attempted to elude officers.

Benjamin Moran, 35, was charged with driving suspended, reckless driving and eluding a peace officer.

A Whitefish officer attempted to pull over Moran at 1:38 a.m., at the intersection of U.S. 93 South and JP Road. Moran allegedly drove away in his red 1995 Jeep Cherokee at speeds of 65 mph through town. Officers stopped the pursuit due to slick road conditions. Moran was last seen turning onto KM Ranch Road, where his home address is listed.

Later he was spotted by officers with the Flathead County Sheriff’s Department at the Zip Trip gas station on Reserve in Kalispell. Moran fled again, going northbound on U.S. 93, reportedly at speeds of 100 mph. He turned east on Hodgson Road, then north on Whitefish Stage where he crashed. He was then taken to the hospital.

Moran led police on a high-speed pursuit in October that reached speeds of 90 mph. That chase ended with a crash on Farm to Market Road. He was charged with criminal endangerment and possession of dangerous drugs.

Moran is currently being held at the Flathead County Detention Center.