A Salem woman faces six felony offenses in connection to allegedly stealing a truck and initiating a high-speed pursuit from Salem to Rolla while the truck’s owner was in the bed of the vehicle, according to documents filed in circuit court.
Sara L. Cunningham, 34, is charged with first-degree kidnapping, first-degree property damage, resisting arrest, leaving the scene of a motor vehicle crash and two counts of first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle. She also faces a misdemeanor DWI charge. Her bond was set at $500,000.
An officer with the Salem Police Department responded at 5:18 p.m. Thursday to Salem High School on a report of a motor vehicle crash, according to the case’s probable cause statement. Upon arrival, a Mitsubishi Mirage was discovered disabled and abandoned. Bystanders on scene then ran toward the officer yelling, “She is behind the school trying to steal a truck.”
Once behind the school, the statement says another bystander reported a female suspect, later identified as Cunningham, stole the truck and drove away with its owners still in the bed of the vehicle. The abandoned Mitsubishi was later confirmed as also stolen.
Officers next located the truck, a Chevrolet Silverado, outside Salem traveling northbound on Highway 72 toward Rolla. The truck owner was observed still in the truck bed hitting the truck cab’s back glass and yelling.
The statement says Cunningham ignored orders to halt and accelerated to a high rate of speed in an aggressive manner. It details while traveling on the highway she was observed brake checking other vehicles and forcing them off the roadway into the grass.
Upon entering the Rolla city limits from Highway 72 spike strips were deployed but unsuccessful in disabling the Silverado. It then turned off onto Salem Avenue and meandered through several area streets until eventually reaching State Route BB. There, the truck owner crawled through the rear driver seat window and distracted Cunningham causing her to lose control of the vehicle. The Silverado then crashed through a fence, across the field and into a tree.
The statement says the Silverado owner took Cunningham out of the truck and to the ground where she was secured in handcuffs by officers. The truck owner is quoted as telling officers he “did not know who she was but knew he was not going to let her take his truck.”
The truck owner suffered minor scrapes and bruising during the pursuit but was not seriously injured. He told officers he believed his life was in danger. Damage to the Silverado and Mitsubishi was each estimated to be in excess of $1,000.
Testing at Salem Memorial District Hospital indicated Cunningham was under the influence of narcotics and stimulants during the pursuit. She is also quoted as admitting to consuming alcohol and taking meth earlier that day. She offered no other comments.
