Tosten David Walsh-Lommen (pictured), 30, was arrested Monday afternoon in California for allegedly drunk driving at 118mph with a dead woman’s body inside the car
A South Dakota man was arrested Monday afternoon in California for allegedly drunk-driving at 118mph with a dead woman’s body inside the car.
Highway Patrol troopers found the body of a woman in the man’s vehicle after stopping him on Interstate 90 in Rapid City.
Tosten David Walsh-Lommen, 30, of Santa Cruz, California, was identified as the suspect who allegedly led police on the high-speed chase.
Officials said the vehicle eventually came to a rest in a ditch after officials used spike strips to destroy both front tires, Trooper Jeremy Biegert said in a court affidavit.
Biegert said Lommen attempted to flee on foot before getting pulled from a chain link fence and handcuffed on the ground.
According to Biegert, Lommen smelled of alcohol, and a breath test found Lommen had a blood alcohol level of 0.142, which is above the DUI threshold of 0.08.
Officials allegedly found a growler (jug) that smelled of alcohol and prescription bottles in the SUV.
Lommen was first spotted in Lawrence County driving the car, which is registered to someone else, more than 100mph.
A trooper tried stopping the speeding vehicle on eastbound I-90 near Spearfish around noon on New Year’s Day, but Lommen allegedly refused to stop.
The pursuit continued for nearly 50 miles and reached speeds of 118mph before officers used spike strips to disable the vehicle’s tires.
Officers (file image) found the woman’s body in the rear of the vehicle wrapped in a blanket after arresting the man. The identity of the woman was not released by law enforcement as of Tuesday evening and an investigation is ongoing
Officers found the woman’s body in the rear of the vehicle wrapped in a blanket after arresting the man.
The identity of the woman was not released by law enforcement as of Tuesday evening.
Attorney General Marty Jackley said Tuesday his office is conducting an investigation into the woman’s death.
Lommen was arrested and charged with aggravated eluding and drunk driving.
The Pennington County Clerk of Courts office says Lommen’s bond has been set at $2.5 million. It wasn’t immediately clear if Lommen has a defense attorney to speak on his behalf about the case.
Lommen – who last year petitioned in California to change his full name to Israel – is being held in the Pennington County Jail.