Colorado Man Arrested After High-Speed Chase in Dodge Challenger Hellcat

Colorado Man Arrested After High-Speed Chase in Dodge Challenger Hellcat
Dodge Challenger Hellcat muscle car that crashed following a high-speed chase on the I-70 in Colorado on May 8, 2019. Colorado State Patrol
Tom Ozimek
Updated:

Police arrested a Colorado man who allegedly led troopers on a high-speed chase in a Dodge Challenger Hellcat muscle car before crashing.

Rafael Cotlear was taken into custody on Tuesday, May 7, after allegedly driving the high-powered sports car on I-70 at speeds in excess of 130 mph, according to the Colorado State Patrol.

Colorado State Patrol Public Information Officer Jacob Best said in a statement that troopers had received reports of a reckless driver on the highway “traveling at a high rate of speed, making unsafe lane changes, and driving in a reckless manner.”

Troopers were initially unable to find the alleged speedster.

Then a trooper located the Dodge Challenger and tried to stop the vehicle, but the suspect began passing vehicles on the right shoulder, accelerating to speeds over 130 mph, Best said.

The pursuit was called off because heavy traffic and high speeds involved posed safety concerns.

But shortly afterward, an off-duty officer called in an accident involving a Dodge Challenger Hellcat muscle car that had crashed on a sharp corner. Best noted in the news release that the suspect had rolled the vehicle and ended up in opposing lanes.

The accident prompted road closures lasting about an hour.

Cotlear was found to have minor injuries and was taken to a local hospital.

Rafael Cotlear was arrested following a high-speed chase on the I-70 in Colorado on May 7, 2019. (Colorado State Police)
Rafael Cotlear was arrested following a high-speed chase on the I-70 in Colorado on May 7, 2019. Colorado State Police
Tom Ozimek
Tom Ozimek
Reporter
Tom Ozimek is a senior reporter for The Epoch Times. He has a broad background in journalism, deposit insurance, marketing and communications, and adult education.
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