JACKSONVILLE, IL – A motorcyclist was arrested Saturday evening after a high-speed pursuit culminated in a collision with a police cruiser.
The incident occurred around 6:27 p.m. on West Morton Avenue near Lincoln Avenue. According to authorities, the motorcyclist was performing a wheelie and was reported to be traveling over 100 mph.
Attempts to stop the motorcycle were unsuccessful, prompting the response of five additional police units. The pursuit lasted approximately 0.7 miles, with the motorcyclist turning onto South Diamond Street, West Chambers Street, and South Fayette Street before returning to West Morton Avenue.
Witnesses reported that the motorcyclist ran a stop sign at South Fayette Street and collided with a Jacksonville Police cruiser. The rider, identified as 27-year-old Blake K. Barnett of Jacksonville, was ejected from the motorcycle but declined medical attention. Both the motorcycle and police vehicle sustained disabling damage and were towed from the scene.
Barnett faces multiple charges, including aggravated fleeing from police, reckless driving, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, and lacking reciprocity registration, according to police.
The accident remains under investigation, authorities said.