Cab stolen in Lake Co. ends up in high-speed chase

A 54-year-old Nevada man was arrested in a stolen taxicab after he led Kenosha County sheriff's deputies on a chase that hit speeds of more than 100 mph, Lake County Sheriff's police said Monday.

Sgt. Christopher Thompson, a sheriff's office spokesman, said the incident started about 11:15 p.m. Saturday when Karl Joseph Blahnik, who also has ties to Salem, N.C., sprayed a cabdriver in the face with gasoline at the Tours Truck Stop at 16650 W. Russell Road near Antioch.

Blahnik then hopped into the driver's seat of the taxi and took off, and headed north on I-94 into Wisconsin.

Lake County police put out a call and warned Wisconsin police to be on the lookout for the cab, Thompson said.

Kenosha Police spotted it moments later, then gave chase. Kenosha Police were joined by police in Racine County, Thompson said.

The chase ended when Blahnik crashed into a concrete barrier on I-94, officials said.

When questioned, Blahnik was intoxicated and said he got angry over a $26 fare, Kenosha police said.

Blahnik remains in a Kenosha County hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, Thompson said. After facing unspecified charges in Wisconsin, he will be transported to Illinois, where more charges are expected to be filed against him.