PAIR CHARGED AFTER LEADING POLICE CHASE FRIDAY MORNING ON I-95
East Lyme — State police early Friday charged two people with stealing a car and leading troopers on a high-speed chase on Interstate 95 south.
Police said the chase began near Exit 72 about 12:30 a.m., when troopers clocked a vehicle traveling 88 mph in a 55-mph zone and attempted to pull it over.
Police learned the vehicle was stolen out of Middletown and pursued it, calling on neighboring police departments for help. An Old Lyme police officer deployed stop sticks, which slowed the vehicle but didn’t stop the driver.
Police said the driver intentionally crashed into two cruisers during the pursuit. Police didn’t say where the pursuit ended. No injuries were reported.
Police said they believe 34-year-old Moosup resident Staci Trudeau stole the vehicle but 28-year-old Hartford resident John Rogers was driving.
Police charged Rogers with driving with a suspended license, disobeying the signal of an officer, engaging police in pursuit, interfering with an officer and first-degree reckless endangerment.
Trudeau was charged with third-degree larceny.
Rogers, who was on parole, is in custody on a $100,000 bond and was due Friday in New London Superior Court.
Trudeau, released on a $5,000 bond, is due in court July 20. for more than four hours. State police about 5 p.m. said the road had reopened.
The Willimantic 911 Dispatch Center tweeted Friday afternoon that multiple nearby businesses were evacuated. State police said businesses and residents within a half-mile radius were evacuated as a precaution. No injuries were reported, state police said.
DEEP conducted a controlled release of nitrogen from the tanker about 2 p.m. The agency noted the nitrogen released had a very low toxicity with no significant health concerns. TVCCA Childcare and Preschool Center “out of an abundance of caution.”
An Amtrak officer spotted Hackett on a Groton trail in the Poquonnock Bridge part of town and by 9:30 a.m. police had taken him into custody.
Held on a $50,000 bond, Hackett is due Monday in New London Superior Court.