Woman driver throws snake at deputies, runs down motorcycle cop, leads deputies on highspeed chase, causes rollover crash, more
A reckless and dangerous female driver who led deputies on a high-speed chase after intentionally trying to run down a Martin County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) motor unit, and caused damage to two other patrol cars before causing a rollover crash of an oncoming vehicle, has been identified as 54-year old Dawn LaShawn Laprade of Vero Beach, Florida.
Earlier this morning, the Sheriff’s Office reported that Laprade’s crazy driving and potentially deadly antics on the road occurred Wednesday around 10:15 a.m. when a deputy on a motorcycle tried to pull over her pickup truck.
“For reasons we don’t completely understand, that driver then slams on her brake, sending the motor unit over to her right,” said Martin County Sheriff William Snyder. “Once he stopped, she intentionally swerved over and tried to hit his bike. He had to actually jump off to not get hit.” ~ WPBF
Laprade took off at speeds reaching 80 to 100 miles per hour as she intentionally tried to run down the motorcycle and the deputy on it. The MCSO deputy on the motorcycle was able to jump off of the bike before being struck.
Snyder said that once the officer was off his motorcycle, Laprade then took off again, leading deputies on a high-speed chase that lasted for about five miles. During the chase, Laprade tried to hit at least three sheriff’s cruisers, according to Snyder.
She was located by two other road units heading into Indiantown. While driving, she motioned to the deputies that she had a gun, and drove erratically trying to cause them to crash. She did smash into one patrol car. Laprade continued on in that reckless manner, causing a rollover crash of a pickup truck with three people inside. Deputies were able to get her stopped.
When law enforcement approached the vehicle to arrest her, she threw a snake at the deputy, causing him to deploy his taser. She was taken into custody. Afterwards, deputy located that snake and found it to be rubber. ~ MCSO
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The three motorists in the truck that rolled over were transported to the hospital with non-life threating injuries. No deputies were injured.
Dawn Laprade was charged with four counts of aggravated assault on a police officer and fleeing and eluding. Her bond is $90,000 and additional charges are possible.
For more on this strange story, see the video accompanying this article.
(Source and Dawn LaShawn Laprade mugshot: MCSO)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Follow Richard on Facebook and Twitter
