BENSON – A car stolen from a Smithfield dealership was involved in a high speed chase and crash in Johnston County. It started at 11:54pm Saturday on Interstate 40 near Benson.
A Johnston County state trooper was stationary running radar on I-40 when he observed a black Dodge Challenger traveling at a high rate of speed. The trooper clocked the car on radar at 92 mph in a 70 mph zone.
The driver, later identified as Lamine McKenly Lo, 26, of Raeford, NC, pulled over and stopped near the 322 mile marker. As the trooper was exiting his patrol car, the suspect sped off at a high rate of speed.
A pursuit followed on I-40 towards Benson. When Lo attempted to exit onto I-95 southbound at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour, he ran off the roadway and struck a guardrail causing the Dodge to overturn.
The state trooper was close behind the fleeing vehicle and was unable to avoid striking the car after it hit the guardrail.
Lo was charged with numerous offenses including felony fleeing to elude arrest, possession of a stolen motor vehicle, failure to heed blue lights and siren, speeding, and reckless driving.
A 25 year-old female passenger from Fayetteville, NC was released without any charges.
The Dodge Challenger had previously been reported stolen to Smithfield Police from Perfect Ride.
No injuries were reported.
I would like to start off by saying I hope the Trooper is OK. It does not say. As far as I am concerned, Lamine McKenly should have lost use of his arms and legs for the rest of his low life. That POS could have killed a civilian that could even have had kids in their vehicle or the Trooper who has a family to go home to after shift. I hope this animal gets life and some Judge does not let him out on $1,000 bond.