Nebraska driver hits 160 mph fleeing state troopers on Interstate 80

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – A 20-year-old driver accused of reaching 160 mph while fleeing from state troopers in Lancaster County was arrested early Thursday.

The Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) said the incident began around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday when a trooper was patrolling on Interstate 80 in Lincoln, southeast of Lincoln Airport. A BMW sedan was reportedly seen speeding at more than 95 mph in a 65 mph zone.

The trooper attempted a traffic stop on the BMW, but the driver accelerated and fled eastbound, NSP said. A pursuit then began.

NSP said the BMW driver reached speeds of more than 160 mph on Interstate 80 before taking the exit at 56th Street and continuing south. The pursuit was discontinued out of concern for public safety.

The suspect vehicle was found several minutes later by another trooper. It was traveling westbound on Cornhusker Highway between 70th and 65th streets.

NSP said the driver again fled from law enforcement, turning northbound onto 56th Street, where another trooper successfully deployed stop sticks. The driver continued before coming to a stop near Highway 77 and Agnew Road in northern Lancaster County and ran off.

Troopers, with help from several other agencies, later found the driver when he returned home around 1:30 a.m. Thursday.

The driver, identified as Nathanael Campbell of Ceresco, was arrested on suspicion of flight to avoid arrest, second-offense willful reckless driving, obstructing a peace officer and other traffic violations. He was lodged in the Lancaster County Jail.

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