Top 10 – #3 Fatal Police Chase

ST. CLOUD -- The countdown of the Top 10 stories of 2011 continues today with #3 on our list. It's a tragic story about a family that was ripped apart after a fatal crash in St. Cloud.

It was late afternoon on April 15th when authorities tried to stop the Jeep Cherokee being driven by Timothy Gilles. The 22-year-old was wanted for a felony warrant out of Wright County. But, police say Gilles didn't pull over, instead he went over the center median at Highway 15 and Second Street South and headed west at a high rate of speed in the eastbound lane of Second Street. At the intersection of Waite Avenue and Second Street, Gilles ran a red light and struck another vehicle.

That van was driven by 30-year-old Tim Casanova of Starbuck, Minnesota. He died at the scene. His passenger, 22-year-old Megan Thomsen of Glenwood was taken to the hospital with serious injuries. Thomsen was also eight months pregnant. The baby was ultimately taken via C-Section. That baby, named Timothy Thomsen, later died.

Gilles was jailed and held on $1.5 million bail.

He is charged with two counts of fleeing police in a motor vehicle causing death, two counts of 3rd degree murder and one count of fleeing police resulting in substantial bodily harm.

Gilles' next court appearance is scheduled for next Thursday.

Coming up tomorrow, we will have #2 on our list of the Top stories of 2011.