WICHITA COUNTY, Texas – A Silsbee man, identified as James Patrick Ellis, has been booked into the Wichita County Jail following a dangerous incident of reckless and intoxicated driving on Wednesday, April 16.
The event, which began in Iowa Park and extended into Wilbarger County, involved wrong-way driving, near-collisions, and a brief police pursuit that ended at a truck stop in Harrold, Texas.
What Happened?
Just before 8 p.m., the Iowa Park Police Department received calls reporting a possible intoxicated driver on Highway 287. According to witnesses, the man had earlier attempted to buy alcohol from a gas station in Iowa Park but was refused service due to visible intoxication.
Shortly after, the same vehicle was seen traveling north in the southbound lanes of Hwy 287—nearly crashing into a tractor-trailer.
The situation escalated quickly as the vehicle entered Wilbarger County, continuing to swerve dangerously across lanes, from the median to the shoulder, and forcing multiple vehicles off the road to avoid a collision.
Eventually, the driver crossed the median again to enter the proper northbound lanes, where police made their first attempt to stop the vehicle.
High-Speed Chase Ends at Truck Stop
Officers tried to initiate a traffic stop, but Ellis refused to pull over, increasing his speed to over 70 miles per hour. After approximately two miles, the chase ended when the vehicle pulled into a truck stop in Harrold, where officers took Ellis into custody.
Charges and Jail Status
Ellis reportedly admitted to drinking before driving. A blood alcohol test was administered, and the results revealed a BAC of 0.188—more than twice the legal limit of 0.08 in Texas.
As a result, Ellis is facing the following charges:
- Evading arrest with a vehicle
- Driving while intoxicated (DWI)
He is currently being held in the Wichita County Jail with total bonds set at $30,000.