A New Hampshire man has been detained for what state police describe as an extreme high-speed motorcycle chase. Zachary Michael Dionne, 21, of Farmington, is facing multiple charges after state troopers arrested him for allegedly driving at speeds up to 158 mph with a passenger in tow. The pursuit, which spanned several highways, ended with Dionne's arrest at a gas station off of Interstate 95's Exit 3 yesterday, as reported by Boston 25 News.
The chase began after state police were alerted to a group of motorcyclists riding hazardously on Route 101 in Raymond. Trooper Thomas Lombardi, stationed in a state police aircraft, managed to promptly locate the group, focusing on one motorcycle in particular — Dionne's — that was accelerating away from the pack. According to Boston.com, Lombardi's speed readings showed Dionne's motorcycle reaching up to 158 miles per hour as it weaved through traffic, prompting Trooper Samuel Provenza on the ground to engage, but ultimately to not engage in a chase, prioritizing public safety.
Dionne is now facing a litany of charges, which, according to authorities, include felony reckless conduct – deadly weapon, resisting arrest, disobeying an officer, reckless driving, failing to display plates, unsafe lane change, and operating an unregistered vehicle. These charges stem from yesterday's incident, which culminated when Dionne stopped for gas after a high-velocity flight from law enforcement, during which he was observed to brazenly flout several traffic laws.
State police strategically chose to monitor the motorcyclist from the aircraft rather than engaging in a potentially hazardous road pursuit. The aerial surveillance continued as Dionne reportedly rode onto Route 107 and then onto I-95 northbound, where Lombardi timed the motorcycle hitting another high speed of 144 mph. “The motorcycle again refused to stop and instead accelerated rapidly and began recklessly passing other vehicles and disregarding multiple motor vehicle laws," the state police laid out in their statement. Ultimately, Dionne was intercepted and arrested by Sgt. John LaPointe, as mentioned by Boston 25 News.
The defendant is scheduled for arraignment today and remains in preventative detention, signaling that law enforcement is taking Sunday's events with considerable gravity as the legal process moves forward. As this motorcycle saga unfolds, more updates are expected following Dionne's court appearance.
