120 mph chase on Route 101 Exeter, Hampton: Driver charged with DUI

EXETER — A Maine man is being charged by New Hampshire State Police with allegedly fleeing police at speeds of 120 mph under the influence of drugs on Route 101 during a pursuit that ended with his arrest on Interstate 95.

The incident began Tuesday about 9:21 p.m., state police said, when troopers were informed about the driver, a 28-year-old resident of South Portland, who had fled from Epping police on Route 101 eastbound. The 2005 Honda Accord was soon seen near Exit 10 in Exeter by a state trooper, Brian Hanna, police said.

An attempt to stop the driver failed, police said, and the driver left Route 101 briefly at Exit 12 before returning to the highway into Hampton.

Troopers deployed tire deflation devices along Route 101 eastbound in the vicinity of the junction with Interstate 95, successfully deflating two tires on the fleeing Honda, police said. Despite the Honda having two deflated tires, the pursuit continued through the Hampton toll plaza and onto I-95 north in North Hampton, where the Honda eventually stopped and the driver was taken into custody, police said.

The driver was arrested on charges of reckless conduct – deadly weapon, two counts of aggravated driving under the influence of drugs, driving under the influence of drugs, disobeying an officer and reckless operation. The Epping Police Department also charged the driver in connection with that agency’s initial pursuit.

Following processing, a bail commissioner set personal recognizance bail and the driver was ultimately released to a responsible party, pending an arraignment scheduled for Tuesday, June 4 in the 10th Circuit Court – District Division in Brentwood.

Members of the Epping Police Department and the Hampton Police Department assisted state police. Police ask anyone who has information to email Hanna at Brian.D.Hanna@DOS.NH.GOV.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: 120 mph chase on Route 101 Exeter, Hampton ends in arrest