Woman arrested after police chase that ended with her crashing into cruiser

CONCORD - A Merrimack woman was arrested late Friday night after leading police on a chase that began when a State Trooper spotter her SUV speeding at more than 90 mph with with her vehicle lights turned off on Interstate 93.

The pursuit began around 11:35 p.m. when a trroper from the Troop D observed the SUV traveling n Interstate 93 northbound in Concord at 93 mph in a posted 65 mph zone with no lights on. The Trooper activated their emergency lights and siren to initiate a motor vehicle stop, but the driver of the SUV, later identified as a 2012 Toyota RAV4, failed to stop.

The driver continued down the highway and took Exit 17 later driving through a steel metal gate blocking off a class VI road. The driver then went through a field on private property and ultimately crashed the Toyota into a State Police cruiser, concluding the pursuit.

The driver was identified as Heather Lewis, 34, of Merrimack.

She was charged with reckless conduct, resisting arrest/detention, criminal mischief, reckless operation, disobeying a police officer, speeding 25+ MPH over the speed limit and operating without lights.

Lewis is being held on preventive detention until her arraignment, scheduled for Monday in Concord District Court.