A woman is in custody in Sherburne County after leading police on a high-speed chase from St. Cloud to Big Lake — ending in a crash that sent the pursuant vehicle into the Lake on Hwy. 10. The incident happened around 10:30 p.m. Thursday.

 

Ashley Ivy Larson, 26 of Nevis was arrested for fleeing officers in a motor vehicle, receiving stolen property and reckless driving.

 

Big Lake’s “Music in the Park” event, held every Thursday night at Lakeside Park, had just concluded prior to the incident and fortunately for those involved, the parking grounds were cleared and traffic was light when the incident occurred. 

 

Big Lake Chief Joel Scharf said his officers threw down stop strips at the intersection of Hwy. 10 and Co. Rd. 17 to puncture the tires of the fleeing vehicle. The stop strips worked, causing the tires to puncture and eventually the vehicle veered onto west-bound traffic — hitting another vehicle — then plunging into the lake.

 

Larsen had to be rescued by boat by Sherburne County officers.

 

The driver of the other vehicle involved was injured and taken to St. Cloud Hospital.

 

The vehicle was expected to be pulled out of Big Lake sometime Friday morning.

 

The incident began when Larsen’s vehicle failed to pull over by the prison in St. Cloud along Hwy. 10. A chase ensued that carried the suspect’s vehicle through Haven, Clear Lake, Becker and into Big Lake. Larsen had to be pulled from the vehicle after it was submerged in Big Lake following the two-car accident. Larsen is being held in Sherburne County Jail.