EXETER — A New Hampshire State Trooper was injured and a driver was arrested on multiple felony charges after a high-speed pursuit that ended in a crash late Friday night.
At 11:10 p.m. on Jan. 3, Trooper Shane McClure, assigned to the Troop A barracks, attempted to stop a 2018 Toyota Camry clocked at 131 mph on Route 101 westbound near Exit 11, double the posted speed limit.
The driver failed to yield, and McClure pursued the vehicle onto Epping Road (Route 27), where his patrol car rolled over near the intersection with Old Town Farm Road.
Responding to the crash, Exeter police and fire departments provided assistance to McClure, while other troopers continued the chase.
The Camry was later spotted on Middle Road in Brentwood at approximately 11:25 p.m., ignoring attempts to stop by the authorities and evading tire deflation devices before eventually driving the wrong way on Route 101.
The pursuit ended when the driver, identified as 56-year-old Michael P.
Holt of Brentwood, lost control and rolled his vehicle off the road at Exit 6.
Troopers broke a window to extract Holt from the car and took him into custody without further incident.
Holt faces three felony reckless conduct charges, along with misdemeanors including disobeying an officer, aggravated DUI, conduct after an accident, and criminal mischief.
He received additional citations for reckless operation and other violations.
After a precautionary hospital evaluation, Holt was held at the Rockingham County Jail, awaiting a court appearance set for Jan. 6.
Trooper McClure was treated for minor injuries and released from the hospital.
The westbound lanes of Route 101 between Exit 7 and Exit 6 were closed for two hours during the investigation, which involved several local law enforcement and emergency services.
