Wanted felon leads chase, hits deputy’s car, crashes near Old Colorado City

The crash that blocked a section of Highway 24 east of Manitou Springs Wednesday morning was the result of a violent chase involving a wanted suspect.

The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office sent an update Wednesday afternoon saying a patrol officer tried to stop a vehicle at Ute Pass for speeding and weaving.

According to the sheriff’s office, Christopher James Allen, 49, was driving the vehicle and fled from the traffic stop. A few minutes later, he allegedly hit a highway divider and spun to a stop, but he took off again going west when law enforcement tried to stop him.

At one point, Allen side-swiped a sheriff’s deputy’s unmarked vehicle and then turned around to drive east on Highway 24.

Deputies say Allen kept driving until he crashed into another vehicle past 31st Street.

Allen then fled the scene of the accident and ran on foot along Fountain Creek. Police used K-9 units and a drone to find Allen, and he was taken into custody.

Allen has multiple outstanding warrants, according to the sheriff’s office. He also faces charges of aggravated motor vehicle theft, felony eluding, driving under the influence, multiple counts of reckless endangerment, leaving the scene of multiple accidents, reckless driving, and failure to wear a seat belt.

No injuries to deputies were reported during the chase, but one civilian was taken to the hospital for an injury, according to the sheriff’s office.