A South Range man is facing felony charges following a one-vehicle rollover early Saturday morning that left a 19-year-old hospitalized.
John Wayne Shykes, 23, made his initial appearance in Douglas County Circuit Court on Monday for felony charges of injury during intoxicated use of a vehicle, attempting to flee or elude an officer causing great harm and a misdemeanor charge of knowingly operating a motor vehicle while revoked.
The rollover took place after authorities tried to pull Shykes over for dangerous driving, including speeding and whipping a U-turn on North 21st Street, according to reports filed by the Superior police and Douglas County Sheriff's departments.
After leading authorities on a nearly two-mile chase, Shykes lost control of the car on North 33rd Street just west of Albany Avenue. The vehicle's rear end slid and hit a snow bank, causing it to roll over.
Neither Shykes nor his passenger, 19-year-old Megan Bieroth, were wearing seat belts at the time of the accident. When the car came to rest, Bieroth was lying on the ceiling of the car unable to move her arms or legs, according to reports. She suffered several broken vertebrae, according to reports, and remained in St. Mary's Medical Center in Duluth in good condition Tuesday.
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Shykes suffered only abrasions and was lodged in the Douglas County Jail. He remained there Tuesday in lieu of $500 cash bail.
Additional charges may be pending on the other side of the bridge. As Shykes was being transported via ambulance to Duluth, he became combative and Officer Ryan Korhonen was called to ride in the ambulance with him. During the ride over the Bong Bridge, Shykes is accused of spitting in Korhonen's face, which is considered causing injury to an officer, according to Capt. Matt Markon of the Superior Police Department.
Bieroth, who told officers she asked Shykes to drive because she was too intoxicated, was issued a citation for underage drinking, according to court records.
A preliminary hearing was set for Shykes on Jan. 28.
