A Massachusetts man decided to pull over on a busy highway at 1 AM for a beer break before leading police on a 122 MPH joyride while intoxicated and without a valid license or insurance.
At a Glance
- Carlos Gallegos-Loja, 23, was arrested by Connecticut State Police after allegedly stopping on I-84 to drink a beer and then fleeing at 122 MPH.
- The incident occurred around 1:00 AM on Sunday in the West Hartford and Farmington area.
- Police observed open alcohol containers in the vehicle, and the driver failed subsequent field sobriety tests.
- Gallegos-Loja faces multiple charges, including DUI, reckless driving, operating without a license, and operating without insurance.
Roadside Stop Escalates to High-Speed Chase
A 23-year-old man from Brockton, Massachusetts, faces multiple charges after an incident that began with him being parked on an interstate shoulder and ended with a high-speed chase. According to the Connecticut State Police, troopers first observed a Chevrolet Traverse pulled over on the westbound side of I-84 near Exit 44 in West Hartford at approximately 1:04 AM on Sunday.
When troopers circled back to check on the vehicle, it had already left the scene. Shortly thereafter, an officer clocked the same vehicle traveling at 122 MPH in a 65 MPH zone near Exit 39. Police reported the vehicle was weaving between lanes before the driver eventually complied with emergency lights and pulled over near Exit 37 in Farmington.
Driver Faces Multiple Charges
The driver, identified as Carlos Gallegos-Loja, exhibited “clear signs of impairment,” including slow speech and actions, according to the official police report highlighted by Daily Voice. Officers also noted open containers of alcohol in plain view inside the car. Police stated that Gallegos-Loja admitted he had pulled over on the highway to drink a beer before continuing his journey.
After failing standardized field sobriety tests, Gallegos-Loja was arrested. Troopers also determined that he was operating the vehicle without a valid driver’s license or insurance. He was charged with a list of offenses, including DUI, reckless driving, improper parking, failure to maintain his lane, and drinking while driving. As reported by Yahoo News, he was later released on a $1,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Hartford Superior Court on July 15.
