BROWN COUNTY — A 34-year-old Evan man is the suspect in a rural Good Thunder assault, a high-speed pursuit from rural Sleepy Eye to rural Searles and a serious injury crash on State Highway 15 south of Searles Wednesday.

Blue Earth County deputies responded to a report of an assault in rural Good Thunder at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday in which Arnold D. Lillo, 83, said an acquaintance had hit him in the head multiple times with a hammer. Lillo drove to a neighbor’s residence for help after the suspect, identified as Brandon L. McMurtrey, left the scene.

Area law enforcement began searching for McMurtrey and a white GMC Sierra pickup. It was later learned McMurtrey was armed with a handgun, according to a Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Office media release.

Brown County deputies found a white GMC pickup near County Roads 11 and 25, four miles south of Essig. The driver refused to stop and a pursuit began, reaching speeds around 100 mph on State Highway 15 south of New Ulm.

The pursuit ended when the pickup hit head-on with a semi truck had stopped to yield for emergency vehicles on the TH 15 road shoulder, near 150th Street, three miles south of Searles.

McMurtrey was extricated from the pickup and remains hospitalized with serious injuries. Assault and fleeing law enforcement charges are pending.

Lillo remains hospitalized in stable condition with serious injuries.

The crash is under investigation with assistance from the Minnesota State Patrol.