Farmington motorcyclist, with rider on back, leads cops on chase going up to 158

Zachary Michael Dionne (NHSP photo)S

GREENLAND - A Farmington motorcyclist was arrested on Sunday after leading police on a high speed chase through multiple town reaching speeds of up to 158 mph.

Police got involved after getting a report of a group of motorcycles being operated hazardously eastbound on Route 101 in Raymond. Soon after a state police aircraft was able to locate the group of motorcycles, where the front rider appeared to be pulling away from the pack at speeds of up to 158 mph while passing other motor vehicles, and going in between two vehicles at the same time.

As the motorcyclist, later identified as Zachary Michael Dionne, 21, of Farmington, approached the exit ramp for I-95, a trooper in a cruiser spotted Dionne going 110 mph and activated his emergency blue lights. The trooper spotted passenger on the back of the motorcycle, and it did not appear to be slowing, so he did not pursue it.

Meanwhile, the state police aircraft followed the motorcycle as it headed eastbound, then southbound on Route 1. Once it slowed in traffic, another trooper regained visual contact and attempted to stop the motorcycle, but Dionne again refused to stop and instead accelerated rapidly and began recklessly passing other vehicles and disregarding multiple motor vehicle laws. Again, troopers did not pursue the bike.

The motorcycle then continued onto Route 107 and then entered I-95 northbound, where it was spotted going as much as 144 mph. During this time, Dionne used all lanes of I-95 to pass and weave in and out of traffic. The motorcycle then took Exit 3 and traveled down Greenland Road before pulling into a gas station where Dionne was taken into custody.

Dionne was arrested and charged with Felony Reckless Conduct - Deadly Weapon, Resisting Arrest, Disobeying an Officer, Reckless Driving, Fail to Display Plates, Unsafe Lane Change, and Unregistered Vehicle. Dionne was processed and held in preventative detention at the Rockingham County House of Corrections pending an arraignment today in Hampton District Court.