Teen Who Led Police on High-Speed Chase: 'I Didn't Want to Miss Girlfriend's Prom'

A 19-year-old motorist who led Wentzville Police on a car chase reaching speeds up to 100 mph, driving into oncoming lanes on dark, curvy roads told officers he fled because he wanted to take his girlfriend to prom on Saturday and didn’t want to spend the night in jail.

Daniel Buck, 19, of the 200 block of Church Street in O’Fallon, was charged with resisting arrest by fleeing and creating a substantial risk of injury or death.

Wentzville Police said an officer spotted Buck Saturday near McHugh Road and Highway 61 driving with license plates registered to another vehicle. The officer said he became suspicious when Buck turned suddenly into the Bedford Falls subdivision when the officer pulled behind him.

When the officer discovered Buck had nine warrants for failure to appear on several charges and his driver’s license had been revoked.

When the officer said he turned around, Buck crossed Highway 61 and turned eastbound on McHugh Road at a high rate of speed.

When the officer activated his lights and siren, Buck increased speed and drove into the oncoming lane on McHugh Road several times, according to a police report.

The officer said Buck drove through the front yard of a house at 3033 McHugh Road to turn around and head west on McHugh. Buck was doing 80 mph as he turned and went off the roadway, nearly striking a utility pole, the officer said.

McHugh returned to westbound McHugh and then turned north on Highway 61, where he drove at speeds up to 100 mph and went west on Highway W, according to court documents.

The officer said Buck drove at high speeds on Highway W, where he crossed into oncoming traffic several times and went around blind corners while in the oncoming lane.

His car was disabled by spike strips put in the roadway by Foristell Police. The officer saw Buck get out of the driver’s seat and flee on foot at Veteran’s Memorial Parkway and Highway T. The officer caught him.

An unknown passenger in the car escaped.

Buck is being held in St. Charles County jail. Bail was set at $15,000, cash only, with conditions that he cannot drive any motorized vehicle.

For more crime information on Wentzville Patch, see the following articles:

• Woman Caught With Kilo of Cocaine During I-70 Traffic Stop Near Wentzville