CONTRIBUTED PHOTO This photo shared by the Grundy County Sheriff’s Office shows the scene of a crash after the high speed pursuit of alleged drunk driver Cory Devries of Grundy Center on Friday night. State Rep. Joshua Meggers (R-Grundy Center), who also serves a state trooper, suffered non-life threatening injuries as a result of the chase.

GRUNDY CENTER — State Rep. Joshua Meggers (R-Grundy Center), who is also a trooper with the Iowa State Patrol, was treated for “non-life threatening injuries” after a high-speed pursuit of an alleged drunk driver that began at the Casey’s located at 1708 G. Ave. in Grundy Center on Friday night.

According to a press release from the Grundy County Sheriff’s Office, dispatch received a report of an intoxicated male at the aforementioned Casey’s at 9 p.m. Friday, and officers from the Grundy Center Police Department were dispatched to the scene. Before their arrival, employees reported that the intoxicated male had left the parking lot at a high rate of speed, traveling southbound on County Road T-37.

A short time later, Grundy County deputies located the vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed on a gravel road south of Grundy Center. Due to heavy dust conditions, the deputy lost visual contact with the vehicle. Another deputy later observed the same vehicle northbound on County Road T-47 traveling 92 miles per hour in a 55 mph zone. Deputies initiated a pursuit that continued for several miles before losing sight of the vehicle again on gravel roads.

Approximately 20 minutes later, Grundy County Dispatch received a 911 call reporting the same vehicle driving erratically at a high rate of speed on Highway 20. An Iowa State Trooper soon observed the vehicle near the intersection of D-35 and T-55. After a brief pursuit, the trooper also lost sight of the suspect vehicle on a gravel road.

Moments later, a Grundy County Deputy located the suspect vehicle entering Dike on T-55 traveling at 100 mph. The pursuit continued east on County Road D-19, reaching speeds exceeding 120 mph. Deputies then pursued the vehicle south on Grundy Road, where it was observed driving erratically and in the wrong lane at times. During the pursuit, one Grundy County Deputy’s vehicle entered a ditch near Waters Road and Grundy Road due to poor visibility from dust.

A Hudson Police Officer later located the suspect vehicle north of Hudson on Hudson Road, and the pursuit resumed at speeds exceeding 100 mph. The chase continued east on Ranchero Road, where a Black Hawk County Deputy successfully deployed stop sticks at Highway 63 and Ranchero Road, flattening three of the suspect’s tires.

Despite the damage, the suspect continued driving southbound on Highway 63 north of Hudson, swerving across lanes while running on rims with a Grundy County Deputy in pursuit. The vehicle then crossed the centerline into the northbound lane and collided head-on with a fully marked Iowa State Patrol Tahoe that had its emergency lights activated.

The collision resulted in serious damage to both vehicles. The State Trooper, later identified as Meggers, was transported by Hudson Ambulance to MercyOne Waterloo Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. Hudson Fire Department personnel conducted a lengthy extrication to free the driver, identified as Cory Devries, 24, of Grundy Center, who was airlifted to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics with serious injuries.

Charges against Devries are pending and had not yet been posted to Iowa Courts Online when this issue went to press. Well wishes for a speedy recovery from fellow lawmakers poured in quickly for Meggers, who was reported to be at home and recovering as of Saturday. Meggers was first elected to represent District 54 in the 2022 election and is currently serving his second term.

The Grundy County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Grundy Center Police Department, Iowa State Patrol, Hudson Police Department, Hudson Fire and EMS, Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office, Waterloo Police Department, Waterloo Fire Rescue, and AirCare.