Chase from Shelby County Connected to Collision in Effingham County (UPDATE)

A chase that began in Shelby County this morning resulted in an arrest then a collision in Effingham County.

In custody is 36-year-old Nathaniel Sperry of Decatur, who is being held on counts of aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude an officer and assault with a vehicle.

Shelby County Sheriff Brian McReynolds said that the incident began when Shelbyville city authorities spotted a pickup truck parked at a convenience store in Shelbyville. The truck was reported stolen from Decatur. McReynolds said no one was in the truck at the time. When Sperry was spotted getting into the vehicle, a Shelby County sheriff's deputy attempted to assist a Shelbyville police officer in making a stop at the location. However, Sperry fled the scene, striking the sheriff's squad car in the process. 

Police pursued the stolen truck out of Shelbyville and south down Illinois Route 32, then east past Lake Sara Road. McReynolds deployed spike strips on Nazarene Road near Dieterich Bank and Sperry drove over them. That blew the tires out on the truck and brought it to a stop. Sperry was taken into custody without incident. 

A Shelby County sheriff's squad car that had stopped to refuel collided with a truck pulling a trailer at the intersecton of Routes 32/33 and Lake Sara Road. No injuries resulted from the crash.

Roadways were reopened about 9am.

McReynolds reported that in addition to the charges resulting from Tuesday's incident, Sperry also has active warrants from Fayette County.