FRAMINGHAM – A 26-year-old woman driver led Troopers with the Massachusetts State Police [MSP] on a brief pursuit which ended in a car fire, the rescue of kittens and the driver facing several charges on Friday, September 18.
At around 4 PM, Troopers on the eastbound side of the Massachusetts Turnpike initiated a traffic stop of a 2004 Nissan Maxima. The vehicle did not have a visible inspection sticker. The vehicle owner also had their license to operation suspended.
The driver refused to stop, causing Troopers to pursue. The driver pulled into the Natick service plaza, but sped away as Troopers approached her vehicle, causing the pursuit to resume.
The woman pulled the vehicle into the breakdown lane in Wayland as smoke began coming from the undercarriage. The vehicle then caught fire.
According to MSP, when Troopers removed the driver from the vehicle, she resisted and attempted to kick at them.
After the woman was subdued, she informed the Troopers that her kittens were in the burning vehicle.
Troopers were unable to access doors to the vehicle due to the ongoing fire. After breaking the rear window of the vehicle, Troopers removed a transport cage containing two kittens from the vehicle.
Wayland EMS transported the woman to a local hospital for evaluation. She remained in the hospital Saturday morning.
The Wayland Fire Department responded to handle the vehicle fire.
MSP expect charges to be filed against the woman. Her name has not been released as of Saturday morning.
Police released the kittens to a local animal shelter, which made arrangements with a family member of the woman for pickup.
