(Lincoln, NE) -- A Lincoln man is arrested following a high speed chase in Lancaster and Gage counties.
The Nebraska State Patrol says around 4:45 Wednesday afternoon, they received a report of a reckless vehicle driving on Highway 77 near west Lincoln. Investigators say a trooper was able to locate the vehicle, a Toyota Celica, as it was southbound on Highway 77 near the Highway 33 junction. The state patrol says the trooper attempted a traffic stop, but the vehicle fled. The trooper then initiated a pursuit, with the suspect vehicle fleeing southbound on Highway 77 at speeds reaching near 100 MPH.
Investigators say the Celica then crossed the median and began driving southbound on the shoulder of the northbound lanes of Highway 77. The trooper continued in the correct lane of travel. As the vehicle approached a Gage County Sheriff’s Deputy near the junction of Highway 77 and Highway 41, the suspect vehicle turned around and began driving northbound on the shoulder of the southbound lanes.
The NSP says troopers continued their pursuit while maintaining their position on the correct side of the highway. Other troopers then performed rolling roadblocks to stop southbound traffic, which allowed a trooper to cross the median and pursue from directly behind the suspect vehicle. At that time, as the vehicle approached Panama Road, it drove into the ditch and got stuck in the mud. The driver, 31 year old Charles Rothman, was then taken into custody incident.
Rothman was arrested for flight to avoid arrest, willful reckless driving, and an active warrant for a parole violation.