Hartford Driver Charged In Hospital Bed After Reckless Driving Incident Across Tolland County: Police

TOLLAND, CT — A Hartford man was charged in his hospital bed after a high-speed pursuit that began in Tolland and ended on the other end of the county Sunday, state police said.

At about 6:40 p.m. Sunday, a state trooper observed a white Nissan Maxima traveling eastbound on I-84 near Exit 67 exhibiting "erratic driving behavior," including unsafe lane changes, failure to signal, and difficulty maintaining a lane, an arrest report indicates.

A registration check revealed the plate was canceled and had been assigned to a different vehicle, state police said.

When the trooper attempted to conduct a traffic stop near Exit 68 in Tolland, the vehicle accelerated, turned off its lights, and drove through traffic at speeds exceeding 90 mph., according to an incident report. The Trooper discontinued the pursuit and notified dispatch, according to an incident report.

A short time later, a 911 caller reported a white vehicle driving at high speed with no lights near Exit 70, and the vehicle was spotted by another trooper in the area of Exits 72 and 73 in Union.

When the Trooper attempted to initiate a traffic stop, the vehicle again fled.

Pursuit efforts were discontinued, and shortly thereafter the vehicle lost control while exiting I-84 at Exit 74, according to an incident report.

The vehicle left the road, struck a tree stump, and overturned, according to an incident report. The driver driver fled on foot but was apprehended approximately 300 meters away by troopers, according to an incident report.

The driver, identified as Youry Jawaan Smith, 25, of Hartford, was found to be on parole, unlicensed, and showing signs of alcohol impairment, according to an incident report.

Because of crash-related injuries, full sobriety testing could not be completed on Smith, who was showing signs of impairment, state police said. A search of the vehicle revealed suspected marijuana packaged in a quantity consistent with sale, along with multiple alcohol containers,. according to an incident report.

Smith was transported to an area hospital for treatment, then later held at the Hartford Correctional Center on a $100,000 bond. Smith is scheduled to appear at Rockville Superior Court on Jan. 12.

Smith has been charged with reckless driving, a lane violation, the illegal sale of cannabis, interfering, reckless endangerment and engaging police in a pursuit, along with license, registration and insurance violations.