Wayne David Benson, 49, of Blooming Prairie was charged on Friday in Mower County District Court with felony fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle and gross misdemeanor second-degree DWI.

According to Chief Deputy Mark May, the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office alerted Mower County law enforcement at about 6 p.m. on Thursday concerning a vehicle heading south into Mower County near Sargeant. A Mower County deputy spotted the vehicle on County Road 1 and allegedly observed it driving erratically and crossing the fog line onto the gravel shoulder.

The deputy pursued the vehicle and activated his emergency lights as they continued west on County Road 1, according to May. He ran the plates, which came back as registered to Benson. Speeds ranged between 40 to 50 miles per hour, but Benson allegedly continued to drive erratically, twice almost hitting vehicles driving in the eastbound lane.

The deputy contacted the Blooming Prairie Police Department, who set up spike strips on Country Road 1 near Brookside Campgrounds, according to May. The strips deflated three of the vehicle’s tires, but the pursuit continued. After one failed attempt, the deputy’s vehicle made contact with the rear of Benson’s vehicle, causing it to spin out as it approached 218.

The deputy was able to get Benson, who allegedly smelled of alcohol, out of the vehicle. May said Benson fought and resisted, but there were no injuries.

A preliminary breath test was conducted and showed that Benson’s blood-alcohol concentration was almost four times the legal limit, according to May.

A review of Benson’s criminal record shows prior convictions for DWI.

Benson will appear in court again on May 24.