A suspect driving a stolen car is dead after the vehicle he was driving crashed off Interstate 40 and burst into flames following a state police chase Thursday night, the Arkansas State Police said in a release today.
The suspect was spotted by North Little Rock police driving a stolen Kia Sportage near 2700 MacArthur Drive around 8:22 p.m. The North Little Rock police pursued the suspect in the vehicle until he reached I-40 and the state police took over the pursuit. The suspect attempted to exit the interstate at the Morgan/Maumelle exit at mile 142 but lost control of the vehicle, which hit a tree and caught fire, the report said.
The suspect, whose name was not released, was pronounced dead on the scene by the coroner.
From the state police:
The Arkansas State Police is investigating the crash of a suspect who fled from Arkansas State Troopers and the North Little Rock Police Department yesterday evening (Thursday, January 12th). Around 8:22pm last night, officers with the North Little Rock Police Department attempted to make a traffic stop on a stolen silver Kia Sportage in the area of 2700 McArthur Drive.
As the suspect approached Interstate 40, Arkansas State Police Troopers were asked to assist North Little Rock PD and took control of the pursuit around the 146 mile marker (White Oak Crossing).
Upon approaching the 142 exit (Morgan/Maumelle) on Interstate 40, the suspect attempted to take the exit at a high rate of speed and lost control of the vehicle, at which time the vehicle crashed into a tree and caught on fire. The unidentified driver of the vehicle was pronounced dead on scene by the Pulaski County Coroner.
The body of the driver has been transported to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory where identification, as well as a manner and cause of death will be determined.
