Three Arrested Following Multiple Pursuits Near Ogallala

NORTH PLATTE, Neb.  — Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol have arrested multiple people following separate pursuits near Ogallala.

Tuesday afternoon, a trooper observed a Hyundai Accent speeding on Interstate 80. The trooper attempted a traffic stop, but the driver refused to yield and accelerated to over 110 miles per hour. The trooper then initiated a pursuit.

The vehicle continued westbound for several miles, weaving through traffic, with speeds reaching up to 115 miles per hour. The driver then voluntarily stopped the vehicle at the Ogallala exit. The driver and passenger were both taken into custody without further incident.

The driver, 35-year-old Ashley Passolt, of Bennington, Nebraska, was arrested for flight to avoid arrest, willful reckless driving, driving under the influence, refusal of a chemical test, and traffic violations. The passenger, 40-year-old Marc Wigle, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, was arrested for possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Both were lodged into Keith County Jail.

Tuesday night, a trooper observed a Chevrolet Silverado speeding on Interstate 80 near Ogallala. The trooper attempted a traffic stop, but the driver refused to yield, which resulted in an initiated pursuit.

The vehicle exited I-80 at the Roscoe interchange and began traveling southbound on county roads. After approximately 20 minutes, the vehicle lost control on a dirt road near Madrid and rolled into the ditch. Troopers were then able to take the driver into custody without further incident. The driver was not injured. The pickup was later to be discovered, to be stolen out of Colorado.

The driver, 30-year-old William Klingenfuss, of La Marida, California, was lodged into Keith County Jail for flight to avoid arrest, willful reckless driving, possession of the stolen property, no operator’s license, and traffic violations.