Iowa driver leads authorities on chase, claims car she was driving was stolen: police

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An Iowa woman allegedly fleeing a traffic stop called authorities to report her car had been stolen — but she had been driving it all along.

Rachel Thornburg, 20, was speeding Tuesday on a highway in Clinton, a city roughly 85 miles east of Cedar Rapids, officials said, and a deputy tried to stop her.

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The driver fled, went through a red light, and led police on a chase, the Clinton County Sheriff's Office said in a news release.

Rachel Thornburg, 20, allegedly told authorities her car was stolen — but it turns out she was driving it all along. (Clinton County Sheriff's Office)

During that chase, the sheriff's office received a call from Thornburg claiming she left her keys in her car, and that it had been stolen. The vehicle, she said, was a 1998 grey Buick Century — the same car the deputy was pursuing.

Thornburg allegedly drove into neighboring Scott County, where police tried and failed to use Stop Sticks — a device used to deflate tires. Iowa State Patrol, however, had better luck with the device, and was able to stop the pursuit less than an hour later.

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Authorities took the driver into custody and identified her as the caller who reported her own car missing while leading police on a multi-county chase.

Thornburg was charged with eluding, driving with a suspended license, reckless driving, and speeding.