A Connecticut man who allegedly hit speeds of 90 mph while attempting to flee from state police on Interstate 84 in Tolland on Sunday evening was arrested after he flipped his car.
A trooper assigned to Troop C observed a white Nissan Maxima traveling on I-84 East near Exit 67 around 6:40 p.m. on Sunday that was allegedly exhibiting “erratic driving behavior, including unsafe lane changes, failure to signal and difficulty maintaining its lane,” according to the Connecticut State Police.
State police said a registration check on the vehicle allegedly revealed that the plate was canceled and registered to a different car. As the trooper attempted to conduct a traffic stop near Exit 68, the vehicle allegedly sped up, turned off its lights and drove through traffic at speeds exceeding 90 mph, according to state police
“In accordance with state pursuit policy and lacking additional units, the trooper discontinued the pursuit and notified dispatch,” said police said.
Shortly after, a 911 call reported that a white vehicle was allegedly driving at high speed with no lights on I-84 near Exit 70, according to state police.
The vehicle was later spotted by another trooper in the area Exits 72–73 in Union. When the trooper attempted to initiate a traffic stop, the vehicle allegedly fled once again. Troopers again ended the pursuit, state police said.
Shortly after, troopers learned that the vehicle lost control while exiting I-84 at Exit 74, left the roadway, hit a tree stump and overturned, according to state police. The driver allegedly attempted to flee on foot but was caught by troopers about 300 meters away, state police said.
The driver was identified as 25-year-old Youry Jawaan Smith, of Hartford. According to state police, he was allegedly found to be “on parole, unlicensed and showing signs of alcohol impairment.”
“Due to crash-related injuries, full sobriety testing could not be completed. However, indicators observed during some standardized field sobriety testing, combined with the odor of alcohol and Smith’s driving behavior, established probable cause for operating under the influence,” state police alleged.
A search of the vehicle allegedly revealed suspected marijuana “packaged in a quantity consistent with sale, which was seized and submitted as evidence, and multiple alcohol containers,” according to state police.
Smith was taken to an area hospital for treatment and later transported and held at the Hartford Correctional Center on a $100,000 bond where he was charged with improper use of marker, registration or license, illegal operation of a motor vehicle without minimum insurance, reckless driving operating over 85 mph, engaging police in a pursuit, illegally operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs/alcohol, failure to drive in proper lane, illegally operating a motor vehicle in violation of license class, illegal sale, manufacture of less than eight ounces of cannabis, interfering with an officer/resisting and second-degree reckless endangerment. He was scheduled to appear at Rockville Superior Court on Monday.