Stutsman County man faces several charges after fleeing NDHP and receiving severe hypothermia

Courtesy of: North Dakota Highway Patrol
Courtesy of: North Dakota Highway Patrol

(Stutsman County, ND) -- The North Dakota Highway Patrol (NDHP) is identifying a man who ran from officers and received severe hypothermia.

22 year-old Jamestown resident Austin Perleberg Hunt was the driver of a vehicle chase on I-94 5 miles west of Jamestown. The vehicle left the roadway about 1/4th a mile from County Road 40, coming to rest in a slough. Officers discovered the vehicle was reported stolen in Fargo on March 21st.

Perleberg Hunt fled on foot, while two adult passengers remained in the vehicle and were detained. Perleberg Hunt swam and waded through the slough, away from the stolen vehicle. Deputies were able to find Perleberg Hunt after 1 1/2 hours, who was severely hypothermic by the time of his discovery. Perleberg Hunt needed to be lifted from the slough by officers, and was taken to a hospital in Fargo. 

Perleberg Hunt is charged with felony fleeing, reckless endangerment, possession of drug paraphernalia and possessing stolen property. He was also charged with driving under suspension and resisting arrest. Perleberg Hunt also had warrants for his arrest in Burleigh, Eddy, and Stutsman Counties along with Jamestown PD. He is currently in Stutsman County Jail. 

You can read our initial story by clicking here