High speed chase ends in fiery crash, jail for convicted felon

What started out as a traffic stop in Park County ended in a high speed chase and fiery crash outside of Park City late Monday afternoon.
Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Matt Nilan initiated a traffic stop on a 2000 Toyota Celica that was speeding in excess of 100 mph on I-90, approximately two miles west of the Sweet Grass County line, said MHP Trooper Todd Hagenbuch, who was also part of the pursuit.
The Celica, driven by 24-year-old Dirk Kevin Ray, continued east, reaching 111 mph, according to Stillwater County dispatch records.
At 6:07 p.m., local law enforcement was requested to help stop Ray. At 6:26 p.m., a caller reported there were two occupants in the vehicle with the male driver. At that point, Ray was being pursued by six patrol cars, with the Springtime exit shut down by a Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks game warden, a deputy stationed at the ranch exit and a Columbus police officer stationed at the eastbound on-ramp, according to dispatch records.
At 6:28 p.m., Ray left I-90 and entered Columbus and drove to the Columbus Town Pump, where two female passengers “bailed out,” according to dispatch records. Ray then allegedly continued the chase eastbound on Highway 10.
Speeds on Highway 10 reached 105 mph and the chase returned to I-90 at approximately 6:41 p.m. It ended at approximately 6:49 p.m. when Ray crashed into an irrigation ditch between Park City and Laurel, catching the Celica on fire.
Ray was not injured in the crash and made an unsuccessful attempt to flee on foot, according to dispatch records and Hagenbuch.
Ray is charged with felony counts of criminal endangerment and a probation violation. As of Wednesday morning he remained in the Yellowstone County Detention Facility. Additional charges could be filed once prosecutors in all three counties are consulted, said Hagenbuch.
MHP, Stillwater County deputies, Columbus police and a Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks game warden all assisted in the pursuit.
Ray is on probation from a criminal possession of dangerous drugs case and a criminal endangerment case, both in Yellowstone County. Ray was put on probation for those felony convictions in February 2016, according to Montana Department of Corrections.