Des Moines woman faces 11 charges in multiple car crashes earlier this month

The Winneshiek County Sheriff's Office say 11 criminal charges are pending against a Des Moines woman involved in a wild, multi-vehicle chase on Friday, October 8th, on Highway 9 west of Decorah.

The Sheriff's Office says 48-year-old Crystal LeCroy of Des Moines was spotted driving a suspicious vehicle in the KAR Auto Center lot at the intersection of Highways 9 and 52.  When LeCroy saw the deputies, she turned around and intentionally rammed the squad car head-on at a high rate of speed with the deputies in it. The deputies were not injured. but the collision totaled and disabled the squad car, leaving the deputies stranded.  LeCroy then intentionally rammed another parked vehicle broadside, pushing that vehicle into a second parked vehicle, causing significant damage to both parked vehicles.

Deputies say LeCroy then left the lot and fled westbound on Highway 9 at a high rate of speed.  LeCroy rammed two more vehicles which were also traveling westbound when they were struck.  A passenger in one of the vehicles that was rammed sustained injuries and was transported by ambulance. 
   

A short time after ramming the fourth vehicle, LeCroy's vehicle became disabled.  LeCroy was taken into custody, and then transported by ambulance.

     
Multiple felony charges are now pending, according to the Sheriff's Office:
--Four counts 0f Aggravated Misdemeanor Assault while displaying a dangerous weapon
--One count of Class D Felony, Assault on persons in certain occupations
--Two counts of Serious Misdemeanor Leaving Scene of an Injury Accident
--One count of Class D Felony Eluding an Officer
--One count of Class C Felony Criminal Mischief
--One count of Class D Felony 2nd Degree Criminal Mischief

--One count of Class D Felony Assault on persons in certain occupations with intent to inflict serious injury

The Winneshiek County Sheriff's Office was assisted by the Decorah Police Department, Winneshiek County Ambulance, Decorah Fire Department, Winneshiek County Communications Center and Winneshiek County Attorney's Office. 

(decorahnews.com's initial story about these accidents can be read at: http://www.decorahnews.com/news-stories/2020/10/26506.html)