One woman was taken into custody following a pursuit that ended in a multi-vehicle crash on the Missouri River Bridge on Thursday.
The Jefferson City Police Department (JCPD) responded to a reported theft in progress at a Target at about 5:12 p.m.
Upon arrival, officers discovered that the suspect, a 32-year-old woman from Columbia, had fled the scene.
During the pursuit, authorities reported that the suspect discarded stolen merchandise from her vehicle.
JCPD terminated the chase due to unsafe conditions but later learned the suspect crashed into five other vehicles on the bridge.
The five-car incident caused significant traffic delays in both directions on the Missouri River Bridge on April 9, 2026. (Photo – Missouri Department of Transportation)
Reports indicate the suspect attempted to hijack one of the vehicles she struck.
She was eventually taken into custody, and charges are pending, according to authorities.