A Colorado man led law officers on a six-and-a-half-hour chase and search Saturday that began in Hershey and ended near Brady, where a K-9 dog sniffed out his hiding place.

A bevy of officers, including the Nebraska State Patrol SWAT and aviation support teams, helped in the search for and apprehension of Abraham Pacheco, 32, of Thornton, Colo.

Nebraska State Patrol spokesman Cody Thomas said it began around 1 p.m. Saturday, when the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a vehicle fire on I-80 near Hershey. A witness reported that the driver of the vehicle was running away from the scene toward the interstate lakes in the area.

A witness said Pacheco had crashed a stolen pickup into the rear end of a semi-truck on I-80, which started a fire in the median. Two people who were fishing in the lake, Zach and Richard Ortiz, went to see if they could help.

Pacheco reportedly refused medical attention and, while others were fighting the fire, ran to the interstate lake and broke into a pickup with a camper attached that belonged to Richard Ortiz. A struggle occurred at the pickup between Zach Ortiz and Pacheco, but Pacheco prevailed, stabbing Zach in the leg with a screwdriver. Pacheco started the engine and took off, running over the pickup owner, Richard Ortiz, as he left. Richard Ortiz suffered broken ribs, hips and pelvis, as well as severe skin injuries, his son said.

Lincoln County deputies pursued Pacheco east on I-80. State troopers took over as the suspect vehicle passed the North Platte interchanges, then crossed the median and drove at high speed in the westbound I-80 lanes.

Thomas said additional units worked to slow westbound traffic to avoid collisions. The suspect nearly hit a westbound trooper but continued on. The camper reportedly came apart, scattering debris along the highway,

Thomas said Pacheco drove more than 20 miles against traffic until he left I-80 at the Brady interchange. Around 1:25 p.m., he parked the vehicle in a parking lot and ran into a wooded area. Troopers and deputies arrived immediately and deployed around the perimeter of the area.

Thomas said the NSP SWAT team was activated. North Platte police and Dawson County sheriff’s deputies arrived to assist. Drones were used to search the area and the NSP Aviation Support Unit responded as well.

Once troopers believed they had an approximate location the suspect, the SWAT Team began a closer search of the area using a light armored vehicle. An NSP K9 (drug detection dog) was able to track the suspect to a muddy area on the bank of a pond and helped take the suspect into custody at 7:25 p.m., Thomas said.

Pacheco was transported to Great Plains Health in North Platte for medical clearance and has since been placed in the Lincoln County jail on a series of charges — reckless driving, flight to avoid arrest, theft, assaults in the first and second degrees, criminal mischief and leaving the scene of an injury accident. He is held without bond until his arraignment in court.

Richard Ortiz is hospitalized at Great Plains Health. An initial emergency surgery was successful, but more surgeries will be needed, his son said.

A GoFundMe account has been established for Richard Ortiz HERE.

(This report was updated at noon Tuesday, July 2.)

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