Crime & Safety
CT Teen Driver Led Troopers On 30-Mile Chase, Hit 137 MPH
A teen is being charged in New Hampshire as police say he sped away and eventually crashed after hitting a tire deflation device.
GOSHEN, CT — A Connecticut teen is accused of leading troopers on a high-speed chase for over 30 miles, then crashing his BMW after police used a tire deflation device.
The 18-year-old hit 137 mph during the pursuit, according to New Hampshire state police.
Police attempted to stop the driver of a black 2013 BMW 335xi on Route 16 in Dover at 8:34 p.m. Monday. Police initially spotted the car doing 95 mph in a 55-mph zone.
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However, instead of pulling over, the driver sped up and drove "in an increasingly dangerous manner," according to police.
Police chased the car for nearly 30 miles. Troopers and local police used a tire deflation device to stop the car. Shortly after the BMW hit the device, the driver tried a sudden turn, lost control of the car, and ended up in a ditch.
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Police identified the driver as Thomas C. Smart, 18, of Goshen. He was charged with felony reckless conduct and misdemeanor counts of criminal mischief and disobeying a police officer.
He was not injured in the crash. A passenger, who was not charged, was also not injured.
Smart has been in preventative detention since the crash, police said.
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