Car chase ends in wreck, power outage

A police pursuit on U. S. Highway 87 ended with a wreck that knocked out power for homes southwest of Havre Thursday night.

At 5:37 p. m. the Hill County Sheriff's Office dispatch received a call from the Rocky Boy Police Department, requesting assistance with a pursuit northbound on Highway 87.

The pursuit began as an officer attempted to stop a black Chevy pickup, driven by 39-year-old Box Elder woman, Susan Raining Bird, on a suspected driving under the influence charge.

The pursuit ended about a half mile south of the Old Post Road turn-off, when Raining Bird crashed her vehicle into a utility pole beside the highway.

Hill County Undersheriff Jamie Ross said this morning that no one was injured in the chase or the wreck.

Butch Larcombe, NorthWestern Energy spokesperson, said Thursday night that the company had received 17 complaints from customers on Old Post Road or adjacent streets.

This morning Larcombe said that the actual impact merely caused flickers, but the damage to the pole necessitated a replacement, which forced NorthWestern Energy to shut down power for about 100 customers on the southwestern edge of Havre for about four hours, starting around 7:30 p. m.

This morning, the pole is repaired, power is restored and Raining Bird has been arrested on charges of criminal endangerment, a third DUI, driving with a suspended or revoked license and eluding police.