Police arrest wrong way driver on I-75 accused of kidnapping passengers
By: A 42-year-old Saginaw man faces the possibility of life in prison after leading Michigan State Police on a high-speed chase traveling the wrong way on I-75 with kidnapped passengers.
Troopers for the MSP Tri-City Post saw the man's car driving at a high rate of speed around 1:45 a.m. Thursday, May 4, near the intersection of Cumberland Ave. and Holland Road in Buena Vista Township near Saginaw.
The troopers attempted to stop the car, but the driver did not stop, causing a pursuit on I-75 going southbound in the northbound lanes, state police wrote in a Friday press release.
The agency shared a video of the incident Friday on Twitter, writing: "Thankfully, nobody was injured!"
As the pursuit began, a passenger in the car called 911 and reported they were in the car against their will, according to state police.
As the high-speed pursuit continued southbound in the northbound lanes of I-75, Birch Run police officers deployed stop sticks at the Birch Run exit and Genesee County Sheriff’s deputies deployed stop sticks at Vienna Road in an attempt to safely disable the man's car.
He entered the Clio Rest Area, and troopers successfully stopped his car using a Precision Immobilization Technique, also known as a PIT maneuver, as he attempted to reenter the freeway.
He was arrested and lodged at the Saginaw County Jail for kidnapping, felonious assault and fleeing a police officer. He also has several outstanding warrants, according to state police.
Both passengers were released without injury.