Four state police cruisers damaged in hourlong chase

The driver of a stolen SUV hit four state police cruisers while leading troopers on a wild, hourlong chase from Wakefield to Plymouth early yesterday morning, police said.

The violent chase began about 11:30 p.m. Friday, when Timothy Crane, 24, of Lynn refused to pull over for a Wakefield cop who noticed he was driving a 2010 Ford Explorer that had been reported stolen in Lynn earlier in the night, state police spokesman David Procopio said.

After Wakefield cops followed the stolen SUV onto Route 128 southbound, Procopio said state troopers took over the pursuit as it continued toward Waltham. The chase, which Procopio said lasted about an hour, led troopers down Interstate 95 southbound to Interstate 93 southbound and onto Route 3.

When Crane and his passenger, Darian Almonte, 19, of Lynn, approached Exit 8 in Plymouth, Procopio said state troopers were able to bring the chase to an end after flattening the vehicle’s tires with a tire deflation device. Both men were arrested, booked at the Bourne state police barracks and transferred to the Plymouth House of Correction.

Crane and Almonte are expected to be arraigned Tuesday on a charge of larceny of a motor vehicle. Crane is facing additional charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and other motor vehicle offenses.