A man is behind bars after allegedly leading police on a multi-state pursuit in a C8 Corvette Stingray at speeds reaching as high as 156 miles per hour. According to a report from NEA Report of Northern Arkansas, the chase ended only after the Corvette struck tire deflation devices and was then ultimately disabled following a crash with an Arkansas State Police (ASP) cruiser.
The pursuit reportedly began shortly before 8:30 a.m. on June 15, when an ASP trooper spotted the red Corvette traveling north on Interstate 55 with a covering on its license plate. A check of the vehicle's registration reportedly revealed it had expired in March. When the trooper activated his emergency lights, the driver—who police identified as 28-year-old Jayden Atreeyian Smith—instead reportedly accelerated away.
View Price on AmazonThe Corvette's performance was on full display as speeds reportedly climbed past 150 mph, reaching a peak of 156. As the chase crossed into Missouri, troopers deployed stop sticks that punctured the Corvette's left-side tires, yet even with the tires losing air, Smith allegedly refused to stop.
The pursuing ASP cruiser eventually caught up to the Corvette; as the trooper closed the gap, the C8 braked suddenly, resulting in a crash that disabled both vehicles. Smith then reportedly grabbed a backpack and ran across a nearby field before the trooper caught and arrested him.
A search of the backpack allegedly uncovered two Ram TRX key fobs, one Dodge SRT key fob, and Smith's driver's license. Investigators also reported finding a small container holding approximately 0.12 grams of marijuana inside the Corvette. But perhaps the most surprising detail came after the arrest; according to ASP, Smith reportedly told troopers he wasn't concerned about destroying the Corvette, because he would "simply buy another one."
That purchase will likely have to wait. Smith now faces numerous charges, including felony fleeing in a vehicle creating a substantial danger of death, fleeing on foot, possession of a controlled substance, reckless driving, no seat belt, no liability insurance, improper lane change, expired tags and improper display of license tags. ASP also intends to seek restitution for the damage to its patrol vehicle.
Source: roadandtrack.com
