One woman’s dead after a chase last night in Central Iowa, and deputies say they think someone was shooting at them. Chief Polk County Deputy Bill Vaughn says it started a little after eleven P.M., on Des Moines’ northeast side in a community called Norwoodville. The deputy clocked him exceeding the speed limit but the driver, identified as William Pinegar of Des Moines took off, leading the deputy on a chase in what turned out to be a stolen S-U-V. The chase went through Des Moines’ east side and in an intersection the fleeing SUV hit a passing car broadside, rolling it over. A woman in the SUV was thrown out and died at the scene, and deputy Vaughn says the driver’s been charged with several offenses. Charges against Pinegar include homicide by vehicle, 2nd-degree theft, eluding an officer and speeding, and a passenger, Troy McDaniel of Des Moines had warrants out for his arrest including one for possessing a substance used to make meth. And the investigators found they’d been in more danger than they knew while the chase was going on. Vaughn says based on preliminary evidence at the scene and interviews with the suspects, they think the woman, 27-year-old Melissa Sayles, had been shooting at deputies during the chase. They’re offering reporters a look at the squad-car video of the event, and the investigation continues.
