Missing Stevenson woman found, taken to hospital after police chase

Ashley Grider Kennedy, also known as Ashley Harris
Ashley Grider Kennedy, also known as Ashley Harris
photo Ashley Grider Kennedy, also known as Ashley Harris

The search for missing person Ashley Kennedy of Stevenson, Ala., ended Sunday night with her driving a stolen vehicle as law-enforcement officers from five jurisdictions chased her, according to a release sent by Jackson County Chief Deputy Rocky Harnen.

After losing control of the Chevrolet Suburban and wrecking while trying to elude officers, Kennedy was transported to the Huntsville Hospital with "unknown injuries," the release said.

The release said Kennedy stole the Suburban from the Independent Wrecker Service parking lot in Stevenson at about 6:30 p.m. CDT, and soon afterward a Hollywood police officer stopped the vehicle. As he approached, however, she sped away with Hollywood and Stevenson police departments and Jackson County deputies in pursuit.

Alabama state troopers also took part in the chase. It picked up Scottsboro police as she went through that town, and then as she drove through Woodville on Highway 72 a Jackson County deputy deployed spike strips to attempt to stop her, the release said. Kennedy swerved at that deputy, who took cover behind his car, and then swerved back across the highway and over the spike strips, according to Harnen's report.

That led to her losing control and striking a guardrail, then coming to a stop in the grass.

Kennedy will face several charges, the release said, including theft, attempting to elude and attempted murder.

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