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Arkansas State Police Trooper Zachary Paschal spotted 35-year-old Sarah E. Bates behind the wheel of the C5 Corvette, identified as stolen earlier that day. She had been seen in Walmart security footage and was believed to have been under the influence when she allegedly stole the Corvette.
After fleeing from Paschal, Bates was then seen by an off-duty Pocahontas Police officer as she was heading south on U.S. Highway 63 near Sedgwick, where she entered a parking lot but then kept going south. Paschal spotted her again near State Highway 91 in Lawrence County, but after initiating a traffic stop, Bates sped away, passing other vehicles on the right shoulder and running a red light as she continued northbound.
With his lights and siren on, Trooper Paschal gave chase, with speeds reaching 113 mph in a 60 zone.
He even pulled alongside the Corvette at one point with his window down and yelled for Bates to pull over, a command she ignored.
Finally, a Tactical Vehicle Intervention caused the Corvette to veer into a ditch along the east side of the highway, just south of Walnut Ridge, and when Bates tried to pull out of the ditch again, Paschal blocked her efforts this time with his push bumper.
Even then, it took repeated commands for Bates to exit the vehicle, authorities said.
Bates was taken into custody and read her Miranda rights but said she did not understand them.
After being transported to the Lawrence County Jail for a DWI investigation, Bates was arrested and charged with driving on a suspended license, improper passing on the right, failure to stop at a red light, reckless driving, fleeing in a vehicle with substantial risk, and second-offense DWI involving drugs.
The Pocahontas Police Department is also investigating the theft of the Corvette, so additional charges may follow.
Notice the width of the rear tires
After fleeing from Paschal, Bates was then seen by an off-duty Pocahontas Police officer as she was heading south on U.S. Highway 63 near Sedgwick, where she entered a parking lot but then kept going south. Paschal spotted her again near State Highway 91 in Lawrence County, but after initiating a traffic stop, Bates sped away, passing other vehicles on the right shoulder and running a red light as she continued northbound.
With his lights and siren on, Trooper Paschal gave chase, with speeds reaching 113 mph in a 60 zone.
He even pulled alongside the Corvette at one point with his window down and yelled for Bates to pull over, a command she ignored.
Finally, a Tactical Vehicle Intervention caused the Corvette to veer into a ditch along the east side of the highway, just south of Walnut Ridge, and when Bates tried to pull out of the ditch again, Paschal blocked her efforts this time with his push bumper.
Even then, it took repeated commands for Bates to exit the vehicle, authorities said.
Bates was taken into custody and read her Miranda rights but said she did not understand them.
After being transported to the Lawrence County Jail for a DWI investigation, Bates was arrested and charged with driving on a suspended license, improper passing on the right, failure to stop at a red light, reckless driving, fleeing in a vehicle with substantial risk, and second-offense DWI involving drugs.
The Pocahontas Police Department is also investigating the theft of the Corvette, so additional charges may follow.
Notice the width of the rear tires
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