Two Warren County Residents Injured in Alleged Police Pursuit on UTV

Authorities say the UTV driver lost control and crashed after fleeing from police in rural Iowa.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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Two Warren County, Iowa residents were injured in what the Iowa State Patrol is describing as a pursuit with police while the pair were riding a UTV. The report claims 31-year-old Arik Smith of New Virginia was in a chase with the Warren County Sheriff's Office at 1:45 AM when he lost control of the 2015 Polaris RZR, entered a ditch, went airborne, and rolled the vehicle. Arik Smith and his passenger, 20-year-old Wyatt T. Smith of Indianola, were both transported by air ambulance, though no criminal charges have been filed yet.

Why it matters

High-speed chases involving recreational vehicles like UTVs can be particularly dangerous, raising concerns about public safety and the appropriate use of police pursuit tactics in rural areas. This incident highlights the risks when law enforcement engages with drivers who may not be equipped or trained to operate vehicles at high speeds.

The details

According to the Iowa State Patrol report, the chase occurred on SW 98th Avenue, east of Utah Street in rural Warren County. Arik Smith lost control of the UTV, entered a north ditch, went airborne after hitting a field drive, and then rolled the vehicle. Both Smith and his passenger Wyatt T. Smith were wearing seatbelts but still suffered injuries severe enough to require air ambulance transport.

  • The incident occurred at 1:45 AM on February 14, 2026.

The players

Arik Smith

A 31-year-old resident of New Virginia, Iowa who was driving the UTV involved in the alleged police pursuit.

Wyatt T. Smith

A 20-year-old resident of Indianola, Iowa who was a passenger in the UTV involved in the alleged police pursuit.

Warren County Sheriff's Office

The law enforcement agency that allegedly initiated the pursuit of the UTV.

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What’s next

No criminal charges have been filed yet, but the incident is still under investigation by the Iowa State Patrol.

The takeaway

This case highlights the dangers of high-speed chases involving recreational vehicles like UTVs, which can be difficult to control at high speeds and put both the drivers and the public at risk. It raises questions about police pursuit policies in rural areas and the need for better training and equipment for operating these types of vehicles safely.