Nevada car chase ends with two dead, 4 injured in Arizona

Friday, May 26, 2000 | 11:58 a.m.

Thursday's pursuit began after police in Mesquite, Nev., received a report of a man driving his sport utility vehicle on a golf course.

Nevada Highway Patrol officials pulled over a man identified as Clark Ford, 28, Layton, Utah, who displayed a passport and then sped off, Trooper Alan Davidson said.

The chase reached speeds in excess of 110 mph and covered 32 miles on northbound I-15, he said.

The Mohave County Sheriff's office joined the pursuit in Arizona and threw road spikes on the highway, which Ford tried to avoid by crossing the median, Davidson said.

Ford then drove 10 miles the wrong way in the northbound lanes, hitting a car driven by Illona Stuehser, 59, St. George, Utah, who was in critical condition at University Medical Center in Las Vegas.

Ford then hit another vehicle, killing Justin Harbottle, 22, Englewood, Colo., and injuring three others.

Christopher Gish, 19, of Englewood, was airlifted to University Medical Center in Las Vegas in critical condition. His sister Alexandra Gish, 24, and fiance Curtis Goodiel, 23, the driver, also of Englewood, were transported to Dixie Regional Hospital in St. George, and also are listed in critical condition.

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