Drivers of 3 muscle cars lead area officers on wild high-speed chase

Drivers of three Dodge Challengers who were spotted racing Thursday night on Interstate 45 in Navarro County at speeds as high as 170 mph led area officers on a wild chase through two area counties, Freestone County Sheriff Jeremy Shipley said Friday.

A Dodge Challenger SRT 392 has a top speed of 182 mph and can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds, according to the manufacturer.

The three drivers exited the interstate in an attempt to evade area deputies and Department of Public Safety troopers, but ultimately two of them were arrested and cash and drugs were recovered, Shipley said.

The driver of the third car was able to escape.

One of the Challengers, which is believed to have been stolen from a dealership in Dallas, was abandoned in Teague.

The driver remains at large.

Freestone County deputies and Fairfield police officers spotted a second Challenger headed east on State Highway 84.

While trying to return to the interstate, the driver lost control of the car, which spun out, Shipley said.

“Deputies immediately tried to block the subject from driving off and the driver hit and began pushing our deputy’s Tahoe,” he said.

“The driver's efforts of driving away were unsuccessful and he exited the vehicle and began running on foot through Sam's Restaurant parking lot,” he said.

Officers, however, were able to catch him.

Authorities recovered narcotics in liquid and pill form and $2,250 in cash.

The driver is facing a laundry list of charges including evading arrest, aggravated assault on a public servant, manufacturing and delivery of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, and displaying false or fictitious registration, Shipley said.