Paducah man leads police on four-county pursuit in stolen pickup

A Paducah man led law enforcement on a pursuit through four counties early Thursday morning.

According to the McCracken County Sheriff's office, a deputy observed a stolen pickup truck at 2:40 a.m. traveling east on Interstate 24 near the 16-mile marker. The vehicle had been reported stolen to Paducah Police earlier in the evening.

The deputy attempted to stop the truck, but the driver continued east through Marshall and Livingston counties before entering Lyon County.

That's where the driver attempted to pass a semi-tractor-trailer in a construction zone. The pickup truck struck a guardrail and became disabled.

The driver, 49-year-old Francisco Starks, was taken into custody without further incident. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment of an unrelated medical condition.

When released, he will be lodged at the McCracken County Regional Jail on charges including fleeing or evading police; wanton endangerment; reckless driving; criminal mischief; receiving stolen property $10,000 or more; and possession of a handgun by a convicted felon.