22-Year-old Yellow Beetle Races To 110 MPH As Driver Flees State Police In Willington, Tolland

WILLINGTON, CT — State police said they have tracked down ands arrested the driver of a 22-year-old yellow Volkswagen Beetle for his antics over the summer while eluding authorities in Tolland and Willington.

Jose Reynaldo Garcia Arias, 37, of East Hartford, was served a warrant on Nov. 10 charging him with driving while under suspension, reckless driving, disobeying the signal of an officer, engaging police in a pursuit, driving with improper rear lamps, a lane violation, a traffic control signal violation and first-degree reckless endangerment.

The case dates back to Aug. 14, when a trooper on patrol along state Route 32 in Willington noticed a 2003 VW Beetle driving "all over the road," according to a warrant. The trooper followed the car and saw the driver, identified as Arias, turn onto Route 74 after running a red and then onto Interstate 84 westbound.

The VW had a CT Historic plate and Arias showed up as "suspended" on a state database, state police said in a warrant.

The trooper followed the Beetle and it reached speeds of 104 mph, then 110 mph before the chase was broken off near Exit 62, according to a warrant.