A high-speed chase led to a school bus accident with minor injuries and felony charges for Daniel Bratcher, of Ethel.  No injuries were reported from the 21 juvenile passengers on the school bus. One juvenile was transported at the parent’s request.

Bratcher, 42, faces five charges of class B felony aggravated fleeing a stop or detention-causes physical injury, and one class D felony tampering with a motor vehicle- first-degree. His bond has been set at $100,000, according to a Phelps County warrant.

According to the probable cause statement filed in Phelps County Circuit Court at approximately 3:37 p.m. on Sept. 15, a patrolman was driving in the St. James area, traveling westbound on West James Boulevard. He observed a red Jeep Liberty traveling eastbound and operated by a male driver. The officer reported he had heard Rolla Central Communications earlier in the day dispatch the vehicle and registration information.

The jeep had been reported stolen at 3:07 p.m. on 10th Street in Rolla. The subject description provided to the patrolman was that of a white male on crutches. The patrolman attempted to conduct a traffic stop, activating his lights, and the jeep slowed and signaled a left turn onto North Maramec Street.

The patrolman reported the jeep continued traveling northbound on North Maramec at approximately 38 miles per hour. The subject did not immediately pull over. The patrolman contacted the Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop I communications and informed them of the pursuit. The Jeep reportedly signaled and began turning onto Florine Street, but suddenly changed course and ran off the left side of the roadway and struck a stop sign at the intersection.

The vehicle, the investigator reported, accelerated and traveled northbound through an empty private parking lot and then turned eastbound onto Aida Street. A St. James Police Officer joined the pursuit at this time as the jeep failed to stop at a stop sign and turned northbound on Highway 68.

The patrolman reported in the statement that the jeep accelerated in the center turn lane and continued to weave between the center lane and the northbound lane with moderate traffic in the area. He reported reaching a speed of 62 miles per hour in a 35 miles per hour zone, and the jeep continued pulling ahead of the pursuit.

As the pursuit continued, the jeep began weaving through heavy, congested traffic, including school buses, south of Matlock Drive. The Jeep continued traveling northbound on the shoulder and passed traffic as it exited the St. James city limits. The patrolman reported reaching speeds of 79 miles per hour in a 55 miles per hour zone.

Other patrolmen with the St. James Police Department joined the pursuit. The primary investigator observed that a school bus was stopped in the northbound lane in a straightaway with traffic behind the bus as well as traffic stopped in the southbound lane, as though the bus was offloading children.

The jeep failed to slow down, crossed the center of the roadway at a high rate of speed, ran off the left side of the roadway, and lost control where the bus and traffic were stopped. As Bratcher allegedly lost control of the Jeep, he struck a GMC Terrain. The impact caused the Terrain to cross the center of the roadway and strike the front driver's side of the school bus. The Jeep continued traveling northbound on the left side of the road, where it came to a stop on an embankment.

Officers reported extensive damage to the GMC Terrain, which was driven by an adult female and a male passenger. Both front airbags were deployed, and the vehicle began to smoke. Investigators observed a male juvenile in a forward-facing child restraint system in the rear passenger seat, and two other adult females were also passengers. The occupants sustained minor injuries and were transported for treatment.

Investigators then approached the Jeep and secured the suspect, who was identified as Bratcher. Officers reported the driver’s side windshield had been broken, where Bratcher struck his head due to not wearing a seatbelt.

Bratcher was arrested and interviewed by investigators. He said he ran because he had stolen the vehicle in Rolla. He told officers his significant other had left him the night before and had taken his medication. He allegedly told officers he felt bad about the incident, as he didn’t want to hurt anyone.