Mass. Man on Motorcycle Clocked Going Up to 185 mph on I-93

A Massachusetts man was arrested earlier today on charges after New Hampshire State Troopers allegedly caught him driving at excessive speeds on I-93 in Canterbury.

Daniel Thibeault, 31, Swansea, MA, was arrested at a little before noon on Aug. 11, and was charged with reckless conduct, disobeying an officer, and driving after suspension.

According to a press statement, at around 11 a.m. on Aug. 12, the New Hampshire State Police Special Enforcement Unit was conducting a traffic enforcement detail with aircraft on I-93 south in Canterbury. During the process of the enforcement, the aircraft reportedly clocked a motorcycle traveling at 134 mph in a posted 70 mph speed zone.

“The motorcycle was observed to be passing vehicles in the breakdown lane,” according to Lt. Matthew Shapiro of the New Hampshire State Police. “Soon thereafter, troopers working on the ground in the area watched as the motorcycle cut between the lanes of traffic passing more vehicles before rapidly accelerating away.”

Instead of pursuing the motorcycle, troopers on the ground requested that the aircraft follow the 2009 Kawasaki Ninja 1000 from the air. As it did, the aircraft reportedly tracked the motorcycle going between 150 and 185 mph, while passing vehicles on the Interstate, driving in both the left and right breakdown lanes.

The motorcycle took Exit 15W, allegedly passing vehicles on the ramp, and then again between lanes of traffic on I-393 west. It pulled into a North Main Street business and stopped near other parked vehicles. Troopers at the scene were sent to the motorcycle and Thibeault was arrested and taken into custody.

Thibeault is being held on $1,000 cash bail and will be arraigned on Aug. 12.

“The NH State Police Special Enforcement Unit regularly interdicts elevated speed violations and other aggressive driving behaviors,” Shapiro noted in a statement. “Its members patrol across the state often utilizing the State Police aircraft during commuter traffic periods and holiday travel times with the goal of keeping New Hampshire’s roadways safe for all residents and visitors.”

Editor’s note: The following post was derived from information supplied by the New Hampshire State Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction. Click this link to find out how to get a name removed from a New Hampshire Patch arrest report.