Driver faces felony after high - speed KCSO chase

A 27-year-old Edmond woman involved in a Jan. 15 high-speed chase that ended in a fiery crash northwest of Kingfisher remains jailed on a felony charge in Kingfisher County Jail.

Sarah Ashley Phillips, 224 W. First St., Edmond, pleaded not guilty last Wednesday in Kingfisher County District Court to a felony charge of attempting to elude a police officer and two other misdemeanor charges of obstructing an officer and reckless driving.

Associate District Judge Lance Schneiter set bond at $30,000 and approved the appointment of an Oklahoma Indigent Defense System attorney.

Phillips is scheduled to return to court at 1:30 p.m. March 12.

The criminal information filed against her alleges she refused the commands of Kingfisher County Sheriff’s Deputy Kyle Svoboda when he stopped her Chevrolet Avalanche in a business parking lot Jan. 15 and instead put the vehicle in gear and fled the scene.

Svoboda got back in his patrol SUV, activated his lights and siren, and pursued Phillip’s vehicle down county roads at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour, according to his affidavit filed in the case.

The chase ended on CR 770, west of CR 2800, when Svoboda received radio permission from Kingfisher County Sheriff Dennis Banther, who was en route to the scene, to execute a deliberate maneuver to drive into the side of the fleeing vehicle.

After an initial failed attempt, Svoboda was able to force Phillip’s vehicle into the ditch, but lost control of his own vehicle on the gravel road, causing it to flip several times before landing on the driver’s side, according to the affidavit.

The deputy kicked out the window and was able to escape his vehicle just before it burst into flames.

Williams crawled out the driver’s side window of her own wrecked vehicle and was arrested by Svoboda, with the assistance of Kingfisher Police Lt. Travis Gray, who followed the pursuit in his patrol car.

Both Svoboda and Phillips were treated for injuries at Mercy Hospital Kingfisher and Phillips was transported to Kingfisher County Jail after her release.

If convicted on the felony charge, Phillips faces up to a year in prison and a fine of up to $2,000. The misdemeanor charge of obstructing an officer also carries a possible sentence up to one year and a $500 fine, while reckless driving carries a maximum 90-day jail sentence and a $500 fine.