CRITTENDEN COUNTY, Ark. — A Memphis man faces eight charges after Arkansas State Police said he fled from a traffic stop at triple-digit speeds before a trooper used a tactical maneuver to end the pursuit.
The pursuit began shortly after 8 p.m. Aug. 8 on Interstate 55 in Crittenden County, according to an ASP incident report.
Trooper Hunter Hill reported seeing a silver Honda Insight enter northbound I-55 near the 10-mile marker at a high rate of speed. Radar showed the vehicle traveling 95 mph in a 75 mph zone, the report said.
Hill caught up with the Honda and attempted a traffic stop near the 12-mile marker. The driver pulled onto the shoulder and stopped, but as Hill approached on foot, police said the driver shifted the Honda into drive and sped away.
During the pursuit, the Honda reached triple-digit speeds, repeatedly changed lanes and nearly rear-ended another vehicle before swerving away at the last moment, according to the report.
Near Exit 14, police said the driver crossed from the left lane onto the exit ramp at triple-digit speeds, crowding another vehicle. The Honda then traveled north on the service road in the southbound lane before merging back onto I-55.
Hill reported seeing heavy traffic ahead and performed a tactical vehicle intervention, commonly called a TVI, because of the danger the fleeing vehicle posed to other motorists.
The maneuver forced the Honda off the interstate and into a cable barrier in the roadside ditch. The vehicle continued onto the service road before stopping with extensive damage.
Hill’s patrol vehicle also contacted the cable barrier as he left the interstate, causing scratches to several areas of the vehicle, the report said.
Trooper Rafael Garcia arrived and ordered the driver out of the Honda. Police identified him as Kelly M. Williams, 44, of Memphis. He was arrested without further incident and taken to the Crittenden County Detention Center.
At the detention center, Hill administered the horizontal gaze nystagmus portion of a field sobriety test. The report states that all six possible indicators were observed. Other portions of the test were not conducted because Williams reported having a previous gunshot wound to his leg.
Williams was arrested on allegations of vehicular fleeing, first-degree criminal mischief, first-offense drug DWI, first-offense reckless driving, driving on a suspended license, driving without liability insurance, speeding more than 15 mph over the limit and following too closely.
ASP estimated the Honda sustained $20,000 in damage. Damage was estimated at $2,280.51 to the patrol vehicle and $1,000 to the Arkansas Department of Transportation’s cable barrier system. The report states that authorities intend to seek restitution.
All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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