Car chase ends at Lone Star Park

A car chase through Grand Prairie, Texas, on Sunday ended on the Lone Star Park apron shortly before the start of the 10-race card. A man attempting to evade police drove onto track grounds during the chase, rammed through a closed metal gate near the track’s concert area, and continued onto the apron, according to Lyle Gensler, public information officer for the Grand Prairie Police Department.

The chase ended when the man, realizing he was trapped within racetrack facility, abandoned his vehicle, headed toward the grandstand, and was quickly taken into custody by police, said Gensler. There were no injuries to patrons at Lone Star.

Gensler said the driver has been charged with narcotics possession, which is a felony, as well as driving while intoxicated, evading police in a vehicle, and property damage over $1,500. The property damage was to the large metal gate that leads to the concert area at Lone Star.

Gensler said officers received calls at 1 p.m. Central that there was a reckless driver in the area of Main and Jefferson streets in Grand Prairie. A description of the car was given, and it was found by officers.

“They tried to pull him over, and instead of pulling over, he took off,” said Gensler.

The chase lasted four to five minutes, with the driver pulling into Lone Star. After he went through the approximately eight-foot-tall metal gate and headed for a grassy area that dead ends into the racetrack, he veered right toward the apron but soon realized he’d hit another dead end within the enclosure of the grandstand, said Gensler.

“He got out and tried to run,” said Gensler.

But not long afterward, he was captured. The race card went on as scheduled Sunday.