Four are arrested after police chase U-Haul from Independence to Kansas Turnpike

Someone driving a U-Haul van with three others inside led police on an hourlong chase from Independence to Leavenworth County early Tuesday.

Police arrested two men and two women after the van stopped near the eastern terminal toll plaza on the Kansas Turnpike early Tuesday, said Officer John Syme, an Independence police spokesman.

The chase began about 4:30 a.m. when Independence police investigating reports of shots fired near U.S. 24 and Missouri 291 saw four people flee in the U-Haul van, Syme said.

During the chase, someone tried to ditch firearms by throwing them from the van.

Police used a tire deflating device to puncture the tires of the van, but it continued at lower speeds until it finally stopped east of the toll plaza on the Kansas Turnpike.

No one was injured during the chase. Police were trying to determine if the van had been stolen or if it was a civil matter of the van not being returned.

This story was originally published June 7, 2016 at 7:44 AM with the headline "Four are arrested after police chase U-Haul from Independence to Kansas Turnpike."