Police Chase Ends With Fatal Crash Near Ellinger

A La Grange man died in a crash on SH 71 east of Ellinger following a police pursuit on Sunday afternoon, Dec. 19.

According to a report from La Grange Police Chief David Gilbreath, the incident began when officers attempted stopping 32-year-old Tyler Pleasant of La Grange to serve two felony warrants. Gilbreath said the warrants were for check forgery and credit card abuse. Pleasant was driving a white

Pleasant was driving a white 2012 Ford F-150 pickup on Hanacek Ln. when the officers tried stopping him. Gilbreath said Pleasant failed to stop for the officers and fled eastbound on SH 71.

The pursuit reached speeds of 80 to 100 miles per hour on SH 71. Gilbreath said a Fayette County Sheriff’s Deputy tried to deploy a spike strip on Pleasant’s vehicle west of Ellinger. The attempt failed, however.

The chase continued east through Ellinger and across the Colorado County line. Gilbreath said Pleasant’s vehicle drove off the road near the FreBo Ranch in Colorado County. Pleasant’s pickup struck a guardrail and rolled over several times. Pleasant was ejected from the vehicle. The pickup then caught fire on the side of the road. Pleasant died at the scene.

Pleasant died at the scene. Colorado County Pct. 1 Justice of the Peace Billy Hefner conducted the inquest. Trooper Cole Courville with the Texas Department of Public Safety investigated the crash.