High-Speed Chase on Missoula's Busiest Streets Tops 104 MPH

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On June 1, 2024, Missoula Police Department Officers were dispatched to a gas station on North Reserve Street. Officers were advised of a possible hit-and-run that occurred. An officer contacted the victim of the accident. He stated another vehicle struck his vehicle and he contacted the female driver. When he asked to exchange insurance information, he said the female became “squirrely”, got into her vehicle, and drove off.

An officer located the suspect vehicle on the North Reserve Street Bridge and attempted to conduct a traffic stop. Rather than stopping, the vehicle increased its speed and turned onto Broadway. While driving on Broadway, the officer had to drive 104 MPH to keep up with the vehicle. The speed limit on that part of Broadway is listed at 45 MPH.

The vehicle then turned onto Russell Street and nearly lost control. The suspect was driving around 60 MPH in a 30 MPH zone and continued to swerve between lanes to maneuver around vehicles. The vehicle then increased its speed to over 90 MPH near the intersection of Wyoming and Russell.

The vehicle then ran a red light at the intersection of Third and Russell and had to maneuver around multiple vehicles before increasing its speed again. Then the vehicle passed a truck at South Fifth Street and began to drive in the opposite lane of traffic for multiple blocks at 80 MPH.

The vehicle approached the intersection of Mount and Russell at a speed near 94 MPH and caused another vehicle to veer off to the side of the road to avoid being struck. The vehicle continued southbound on Russell at a speed of 102 MPH and then ran through another red light at Brooks and Russell.

Eventually, the vehicle came up to a curve on Hillview and lost control. The vehicle knocked down a deer crossing sign and a large light pole. The vehicle then drove through a fence line and crashed in the backyard of someone’s home.

Officers conducted a felony stop and the driver was identified as 34-year-old Heather Bishop. According to court documents, Bishop admitted to using Fentanyl the night prior and admitted she was fleeing from law enforcement. She was transported to the Missoula County Detention Facility.

Bishop is currently being charged with felony criminal endangerment, fleeing from a peace officer, failure to obey instructions of traffic control devices, and failure to carry proof of insurance. Her bond was set at $100,000.

The information in this article was obtained from sources that are publicly viewable.