Teen arrested after driving 137 mph, crashing into ditch, police say
Jan. 24—An 18-year-old is accused of leading state troopers on a nearly 30-mile chase on Monday that hit speeds as high as 137 mph, New Hampshire State Police said.
Thomas C. Smart of Goshen, Connecticut, was arrested and charged with reckless conduct, criminal mischief and disobeying a police officer.
Troopers tried to stop Smart’s 2013 BMW 335xi on Route 16 in Dover about 8:30 p.m. Smart was initially clocked driving 95 mph in a 55-mph zone and refused to pull over, police said in a news release.
“Instead of slowing down and pulling over, however, the driver sped up and drove in an increasingly dangerous manner,” police said. “A pursuit was initiated and continued for nearly 30 miles and approximately 15 minutes. During the pursuit, the driver drove recklessly at speeds as high as 137 mph.”
Smart was stopped after local police deployed a tire-deflation device, after which Smart attempted a sudden turn and lost control of the BMW and crashed into a ditch, police said.
No one was injured.
Police officers from Wakefield, Rochester and Milton assisted state troopers.
Anyone with additional information about the incident can email Trooper William Bohnenberger at [email protected].
