A 27-year-old man from Lowell, Massachusetts, faces multiple charges following a high-speed pursuit that culminated in a crash involving a police cruiser in Manchester, New Hampshire. Alejandro Vargas was arrested after allegedly leading police on a chase that exceeded speeds of 100 mph before ramming his pickup truck into a State Police vehicle.
The incident began around 1:20 a.m. on February 20, 2024, when officers from Epping attempted to stop a 2026 Chevrolet Silverado. Reports indicated that the vehicle was briefly pursued on Route 101 westbound. Shortly thereafter, Candia Police officers spotted the truck traveling at a speed of 105 mph. New Hampshire State Police Trooper Brian Knell soon joined the pursuit as the vehicle entered Interstate 93 South in Manchester.
Trooper Knell caught up with the Silverado near Exit 1 on Interstate 293 North and initiated a traffic stop. Vargas reportedly ignored the signal, leading to a chase that continued onto Exit 4. The pursuit ended when Vargas turned onto Arnold Street, a dead-end road. In a desperate maneuver, he allegedly reversed his vehicle and struck Trooper Brian Taylor’s cruiser, subsequently crashing into two parked cars.
Following the collision, Vargas and a passenger exited the truck and fled on foot in different directions. Manchester police responded promptly with a drone, locating Vargas running south near Hill Street, less than half a mile from the crash site. Officers apprehended him shortly thereafter, but the passenger remains at large.
Vargas is charged with felony reckless conduct with a deadly weapon. He also faces several misdemeanor charges, including disobeying an officer, resisting arrest, simple assault, and conduct after an accident, along with various violations. Additionally, it was discovered that Vargas had an outstanding warrant from the U.S. Marshals, although details of this warrant were not immediately available. The outcome of his arraignment, scheduled for Wednesday at Manchester District Court, has yet to be disclosed.
The series of events highlights the dangers associated with high-speed pursuits and the potential consequences for those involved. With the situation still ongoing, authorities continue to investigate the incident and seek the whereabouts of Vargas’s passenger.
