Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol have arrested a man after a pursuit in Lancaster and Gage Counties. At approximately 4:45 p.m. Wednesday, NSP received a report of a reckless vehicle driving on Highway 77 near west Lincoln.
A trooper was able to locate a Toyota Celica as it was traveling southbound on Highway 77 near the Highway 33 junction. The trooper attempted a traffic stop, but the vehicle fled. The trooper then initiated a pursuit.
NSP spokesman Cody Thomas says the vehicle fled southbound on Highway 77 with speeds reaching near 100 miles per hour. The car 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 traveling northbound on the shoulder of the southbound lanes.
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.
Thomas says as the vehicle approached Panama Road, it drove into the ditch and became stuck in the mud. The driver was then taken into custody without further incident.
31 year old Charles Rothman of Lincoln was arrested for flight to avoid arrest, willful reckless driving and an active warrant for a parole violation. He was booked into the Lancaster County Jail.