A 15-year-old Fairfield resident is being charged with several offenses after police claim he fled from them at up to 130 mph and caused a multi-vehicle collision on Interstate 95 earlier this week.
According to New York State Police, the teenager was operating a Lexus vehicle with “switched” Connecticut license plates. The vehicle was not reported stolen, they said.
Around 2:15 a.m. Monday, New Rochelle state police got a “Be On the Lookout” alert regarding an unruly motorist, according to the department. The vehicle was thought to be traveling north on I-95 after escaping from New York City police in the 4th Precinct.
Troopers stationed close to Larchmont’s Exit 17 reported seeing two cars “traveling at excessive speeds,” according to the police. According to state police, troopers began a pursuit, lost sight of the lead car, but pursued the second one.
According to a news statement from state police, “the pursuit lasted approximately three minutes, covered five miles, and reached speeds up to 130 mph.”
According to the agency, four passengers and the 15-year-old boy driver were admitted to the hospital due to back and neck pain.
According to New York State Police, three female teens from Bridgeport, aged 15 to 17, and a 16-year-old boy from Milford were the other passengers in the Lexus. According to an agency representative, the Lexus passengers are not being charged.
According to state police, three further cars were involved in the collision: a 2022 BMW X5, a 2023 Toyota RAV4, and a 2014 Mercedes Sprinter van. In addition to the five minors in the Lexus, state police reported that all eleven drivers and passengers in those cars were also sent to the hospital.
According to state police, all 16 of the crash victims were eventually discharged from their respective hospitals.
According to the agency, the 15-year-old Lexus driver faces charges of reckless driving, three counts of fourth-degree criminal mischief, and fifteen counts of third-degree assault. He is also accused of second-degree reckless endangerment and unlawfully evading a police officer in a car.
According to the police, the parents of the minors involved were informed.
The lead car that eluded authorities and refused to stop is still being sought after, according to New York State authorities.
