Police: Coventry Man Drove 70 mph on Snowy Road to Avoid Inevitable DUI Arrest

A 35-year-old Coventry man is recovering from injuries sustained in a crash into a telephone pole near Abbotts Crossing Road Thursday night following his speeding upwards of 70 mph on snow-covered roads to avoid being arrested for driving drunk, police said.

Police said they got a call at around 6:45 p.m. reporting a motorist driving “all over the road” in a silver station wagon. The driver reportedly nearly hit another car head on.

The caller followed the suspect vehicle and relayed updated to dispatchers as officers headed to the area.

Two patrol units soon spotted the car, driven by Brandon Mott, 35, of 94 Whitehead Road, Coventry, near Parente’s Oil on Washington Street. They followed Mott for a short time and saw erratic operation, police said, and stopped him on Main Street near Holden Street.

“As the officers approached the vehicle, it took off at a high rate of speed,” said Lt. John Shields of Coventry police. “The officers began following the vehicle, but as the suspect vehicle’s speed reached 70 mph on snow covered roads, the pursuit was terminated.”

The lead officer watched as Mott reportedly lost control up ahead. He began to fishtail and when officers got closer, saw that he had run off the road and crashed into the telephone pole.

Mott then gave himself up and climbed out of the driver’s side window.

He was transported to Kent Hospital with minor injuries and later released to the custody of Coventry police.

Police said Mott is facing charges of driving under the influence, driving with a suspended license, refusing a chemical test and engaging police in a high-speed pursuit. He was also charged with two felony counts of possession of a controlled substance.