Rogers man arrested after Van Buren high-speed chase
Posted on Thursday, October 9, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/239702/
VAN BUREN — A Rogers man was being held in the Crawford County jail Wednesday after a pre-dawn chase that ended when his car rammed another car at more than 100 mph, police said.
No one was seriously injured in the wreck, said Van Buren police spokesman Lt. Brent Grill.
Riley Spencer Omara, 22, was arrested on Arkansas 162 between Van Buren and Kibler about 2 a. m. Wednesday after a high-speed chase through Van Buren.
An accident report said a breath test showed Omara’s blood alcohol content was 0. 12 percent. A person with a blood alcohol level of 0. 08 percent is considered to be intoxicated in Arkansas.
Omara told police after his arrest he had been drinking because he was upset over the breakup of a relationship, Grill said.
He was being held on two counts of first-degree battery, fleeing, driving while intoxicated, speeding and reckless driving.
Grill said the chase started when Omara, driving a red Mazda 626, sped over the bridge from Fort Smith into Van Buren and was spotted by a Van Buren officer. The Mazda was clocked at 76 mph in a 40 mph zone, Grill said.
After driving onto Arkansas 162, the car sped out of town but met a Honda Civic that was either stopped on the highway or was slowing, Grill said. It was occupied by Henry Lemus, 32, of Alma and a 17-year-old male also of Alma whom police would not identify.
Grill said he didn’t know why the Honda was stopped or was slowing on the highway.
The Mazda could not avoid the collision and struck the Honda from behind.
The two occupants of the Honda were taken to the hospital for treatment. Omara suffered a scrape on his forehead and refused treatment, Grill said.