(Grand Island, NE) -- Two people are taken into custody following a high speed chase near Grand Island.
The Nebraska State Patrol says just before 10:00 Thursday morning, a trooper observed an eastbound Cadillac CTS speeding and driving with expired license plates on I-80 near Aurora, east of Grand Island. The state patrol says the trooper attempted to pull the vehicle over, but the driver accelerated and fled. NSP says at that time, the trooper initiated a pursuit.
Investigators say the vehicle fled eastbound with speeds reaching 130 miles per hour, with the Cadillac passing multiple vehicles on the shoulder. The NSP says the Cadillac then exited I-80 at Henderson and went southbound before turning around in a field and returning to I-80. The state patrol says the suspect vehicle got on eastbound I-80, drove through the median and continued fleeing westbound on I-80. Investigators say the vehicle eventually slowed down and the driver jumped from the moving vehicle onto the pavement of I-80.
NSP says the driver, a 16 year old boy, fled on foot across I-80 and into a field before being apprehended quickly by another trooper. A passenger, 33 year old Alexander Esquitin of Grand Island, remained in the vehicle and was taken into custody. During the pursuit, investigators say the trooper saw two items being thrown from the vehicle. Those items, a stolen handgun and a methamphetamine pipe, were recovered by other troopers.
The 16 year old was taken to the Lancaster County Youth Detention Center on charges of felony flight to avoid arrest, willful reckless driving, obstruction, failure to obey a lawful order, tampering with physical evidence, possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a controlled substance, and several other charges. Esquitin was booked into the Hamilton County Jail for possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, possession of a controlled substance, tampering with physical evidence, and other charges.