Police chase hits 90 mph, ends in wreck

A Whitefish man was arrested Saturday following a high-speed police chase that reached speeds in excess of 90 miles per hour.

Benjamin Moran, 35, was charged with criminal endangerment and possession of dangerous drugs after his red 1995 Jeep Cherokee crashed in a field off Farm to Market Road.

The chase started in Whitefish when police attempted to pull over Moran who was reportedly seen driving erratically on U.S. 93 South near the Mountain Mall.

Moran reportedly took off southbound on U.S. 93 and was clocked going 65 mph past JP Road. Whitefish police followed Moran down Church Drive, then northbound on U.S. 93 reportedly at speeds of 90 mph.

Whitefish police discontinued the pursuit when Moran turned off on KM Ranch Road.

Whitefish Police Chief Bill Dial said the officer backed off for safety reasons. The officer had the vehicle’s license plate number, “so there was no sense in putting others in harms way,” Dial said.

A county deputy later saw the vehicle on U.S. 93, setting off another chase. The deputy eventually backed off and Moran’s Jeep was found abandoned in a field off Farm to Market Road.