RUSSELL–Two people from Nebraska were arrested Thursday evening, July 2, following a high-speed chase through Ellis and Russell counties, ending in a crash and foot chase.

According to Kansas Highway Patrol Technical Trooper Tod Hileman of Hays, a KHP trooper attempted to stop a speeding van about 6:39 p.m. Thursday, eastbound on I-70 at mile marker 157 just west of Hays in Ellis County.

A check of the van’s Nebraska tag indicated the vehicle was stolen.

The trooper followed the van until backup units arrived. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle near Victoria and the driver fled eastbound reaching speeds of 108 miles an hour.

One mile west of Russell another KHP trooper deployed spike strips, successfully flattening one tire on the van. The van driver tried to avoid the spike strips, causing the vehicle to collide with the trailer of a semi-truck.

The driver and the passenger then exited the wrecked van and started fleeing on foot to the north.

They ran into a field and were quickly apprehended near the Russell Oil Patch Museum at about 7:20 p.m.

The vehicle occupants were the male driver, Adrian Richardson, 23, Omaha, Neb., and the female passenger Taylor Spencer, 21, from Bellevue, Neb.