Alabama Woman Arrested After Turnpike Chase Through Lewiston, Auburn

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A 51-year-old woman from Alabama led Maine State Police on a high-speed chase along the Maine Turnpike through the Lewiston and Auburn areas on Tuesday evening. The chase ended when spike strips were deployed near the New Gloucester toll plaza, causing the woman's tires to deflate and the vehicle to come to a stop. The woman was then taken into custody and transported to a hospital for a psychiatric evaluation.

Why it matters

High-speed police chases can pose a serious risk to public safety, and this incident highlights the need for law enforcement to have effective tools like spike strips to safely stop fleeing vehicles. The woman's apparent mental health issues also raise questions about how to best address such situations and provide appropriate care.

The details

According to state police, around 5:30 pm on Tuesday, they began receiving reports of a red SUV traveling at high speeds and weaving in and out of traffic on the Auburn stretch of the Maine Turnpike. Police spotted the vehicle near mile marker 83 in Lewiston, but the driver, identified as 51-year-old Carla Williams of Homewood, Alabama, failed to stop. The chase continued along the turnpike until spike strips were deployed around mile marker 68 in New Gloucester, causing Williams' tires to start deflating. The vehicle came to a stop before the toll plaza, and a high-risk traffic stop was initiated, leading to Williams' arrest.

• Around 5:30 pm on Tuesday, police began receiving reports of the speeding vehicle.
• Police spotted the vehicle near mile marker 83 in Lewiston.
• Spike strips were deployed around mile marker 68 in New Gloucester.

What’s next

The judge will determine whether to release Williams on bail or keep her in custody pending further evaluation and potential charges.