New Hampshire State Police have charged a man they say rented a BMW on a car reservation app and then drove them into a high-speed chase on Interstate 93 last month.
State police say the chase took place shortly after 10 p.m. Dec. 8, when a soldier monitoring traffic on I-93 north in Tilton was overtaken by a 2018 BMW 330XI traveling at 101 mph. The soldier retreated behind the car, which had by then accelerated to 127 mph. The policeman activated his headlights and siren, but the driver refused to stop.
The chase continued through the towns of Sanbornton, Meredith, New Hampton and Plymouth. Police said the car was traveling at excessive speeds, had lane control issues and turned off its headlights while driving in an attempt to evade police.
Eventually, a soldier managed to deploy a tire deflation device, police said. The car left the freeway in Plymouth and the chase ended on Tenney Mountain Highway. Shortly after, the car was located, but no one was inside.
State police continued their investigation over the following weeks and said they learned the driver allegedly used a common car rental app known as Turo — a kind of Airbnb for vehicles — to rent the car. car to its owner before directing the police in pursuit.
They were eventually able to identify the suspect as Benjamin Saxon, 22, of East Hartford, Connecticut, and a warrant was obtained for his arrest.
He was arrested on Wednesday and charged with two counts of reckless driving with a deadly weapon, two counts of disobeying an officer, unauthorized use of rented property worth more than $1,500, tampering with evidence materials, careless operation and operation without light.
Saxon was released on personal bond and is scheduled to appear in Belknap County Superior Court on February 16.
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