LUFKIN, Texas — One person has been arrested after leading Lufkin Police on a high-speed chase.
According to Lufkin Police, 27-year- old Travis Thornton, of Henderson, as arrested for evading arrest and unauthorized use of a vehicle.
An off-duty police officer from another agency had called to report a reckless driver who had almost hit his family’s vehicle, disregarding traffic lights, speeding and passing vehicles on the shoulder.
As the caller continued to give more information about the location of the vehicle, an officer waited on Loop 287 to initiate a traffic stop and make sure the driver was not intoxicated.
Thornton then passed the officer going 80 mph and refused to pull over.
According to police, Thornton continued north on US 69 reaching speeds in excess of 130 mph.
As Thornton passed Central High School, he turned his headlights off and made a U-turn to head south towards Lufkin.
When the officer was able to turn his vehicle safely around, he could no longer tell which vehicle was the suspects.
Officers who had joined the chase continued to Wells to see if Thornton had continued north. When he was not located the pursuit was terminated.
Soon after, officers were notified that the Angelina County Sheriff’s Office and DPS troopers had located the vehicle travelling south of US 69 towards Lufkin and the pursuit started again.
Thornton was able to avoid spikes set by officers. Once Thornton passed Ellen Trout Zoo he got out of the vehicle and started running but was quickly ran down and taken into custody.
Once in custody, officers learned the vehicle had been reported stolen to Hudson Police Department two days earlier.