Charges Follow Chase

(LOUISIANA)--   A Monroe City man faces several charges after he allegedly stole a tow truck and nicked a Mississippi River bridge while leading authorities on a 45-mile, two-state chase.

61-year-old Clifford G. Lewis of Monroe City Missouri is accused of possession of a stolen vehicle, aggravated fleeing, assault, drunk driving and more than a dozen traffic violations.    The incident started August 15th, when a Pike County Missouri deputy tried to stop a wrecker for a traffic violation at the intersection of Highways 54 and 79 near the Champ Clark Bridge in Louisiana Missouri.

The driver took off into Illinois, with the truck reportedly striking the bridge as he fled. Deputies pursued the truck until a roadblock forced it to stop near Batchtown in Calhoun County Illinois.    Lewis was in the Pike County Illinois jail on 100 thousand dollars cash-only bond pending a court appearance.