100-Mph Pursuit Ends With Suspect’s Car, Trooper’s Vehicle in I-40 Median

HAZEN, Ark. — A pursuit that exceeded 100 mph ended with a suspect’s car and an Arkansas State Police patrol vehicle in the Interstate 40 median after a trooper used a tactical vehicle intervention Sept. 11, according to an ASP incident report.

Trooper Rafael Garcia reported that the maneuver caused the fleeing car to spin, strike his patrol vehicle and send both vehicles into the median in Prairie County. Two people were taken into custody.

The report estimates $5,000 in damage to the suspect’s car and $7,500 to the patrol vehicle. A cable barrier post was also damaged. Garcia wrote that EMS was not called to check either the driver or passenger.

The incident began around 10:51 a.m. near the westbound I-40 entrance ramp at mile marker 193. Garcia said he stopped a silver 2010 Ford Focus after noticing that its driver’s-side brake light was out.

He identified the driver as Anna Marie Seeman, 30, of Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. According to Garcia, the passenger gave a false name twice, and the trooper could not find a matching record in law enforcement databases.

Garcia wrote that he consulted another trooper about identifying the passenger through facial recognition. As Garcia approached the passenger side to obtain a photograph, Seeman put the car in drive and fled, according to the report.

Seeman drove west on I-40, weaving through traffic and passing vehicles on the shoulder while reaching speeds above 100 mph, Garcia alleged. The posted speed limit was 75 mph.

Garcia said he waited until traffic cleared and he had a clear area before performing the tactical vehicle intervention, or TVI. He reported using the front-right portion of his patrol vehicle’s bumper to contact the Ford’s left-rear fender.

The Ford spun counterclockwise, struck the patrol vehicle and became stuck in the median, according to Garcia. He and Trooper Josh Middleton then took both occupants into custody.

Both were transported to the Prairie County Jail. The report says Seeman was placed on a probable cause hold and lists charges of fleeing in a vehicle, reckless driving, improper lane use, driving on a suspended license and defective tail lamps.

The passenger, identified in the narrative as Matthew Arron Thomas Vittitow, 28, was booked on a charge of obstructing governmental operations, according to the report.

The supplied report does not include bond amounts, court dates or case dispositions.

All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.