WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. — A high-speed chase on Interstate 40 ended in a crash in Memphis on August 19, critically injuring the driver of a fleeing vehicle, according to an Arkansas State Police (ASP) report.
The incident began shortly after 10 a.m. when Memphis police pursued a gray Kia K5 whose driver was suspected in an aggravated assault. The Kia crossed into Arkansas via the Interstate 55 bridge, where Trooper Dairren Evans positioned his patrol vehicle on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive near downtown West Memphis to intercept it.
According to police, the driver exited I-55 at a high speed, disregarded a stop sign, and continued along Martin Luther King Jr. Drive while Trooper Evans activated his emergency lights. The vehicle allegedly reached speeds of 80 mph before entering I-40 eastbound and speeding toward Memphis.
The pursuit escalated with the driver reportedly accelerating to approximately 130 mph. Police said the suspect used the interstate shoulder to maneuver through heavy traffic, narrowly avoiding collisions with other vehicles. Trooper Evans attempted a tactical vehicle intervention (TVI) to stop the Kia, but the driver allegedly braked and accelerated erratically, evading the maneuver.
As the chase approached the Mississippi River bridge, an ASP supervisor directed Trooper Evans to end the pursuit, allowing Memphis police to resume responsibility. Shortly after ASP disengaged, the Kia crashed in Memphis.
The driver, identified as Michael Thacker, sustained critical injuries and was transported to a hospital. ASP indicated that it plans to recommend charges against Thacker to the Crittenden County prosecutor’s office, including allegations of felony fleeing involving substantial danger of death, reckless driving, failure to maintain liability insurance, and failure to wear a seat belt. The report did not specify whether formal charges have been filed.
All suspects are considered innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.