Arkansas Woman Flees Police at 140 MPH, Chevy Malibu Rolls Multiple Times in Crash

A routine traffic stop escalated into a high-speed pursuit in Arkansas last month after a Chevy Malibu driver refused to pull over, reaching speeds of 140 mph before crashing spectacularly.

On April 24, a state trooper observed the Malibu traveling at nearly 80 mph in a 45 mph construction zone. The trooper activated lights and sirens, accelerating to match the sedan’s speed, which had reached 105 mph by the time the chase began.

Instead of stopping, the driver—later identified as Krista Bunch—attempted to evade police, maintaining speeds around 140 mph while swerving erratically across lanes. The trooper, maintaining a safe distance, continued the pursuit as the Malibu approached a right-hand curve at full speed.

Physics Ends the Chase

As the Malibu entered the curve, the driver overcorrected, drifting into the left shoulder before snapping back. The sudden maneuver destabilized the vehicle, which struck a wire guardrail front-first. The impact sent the car barreling down the highway in a series of violent rolls before landing upside down, with the stereo still playing.

Emergency crews extracted Bunch from the overturned vehicle. Despite the crash’s severity, she survived and was hospitalized before being taken into custody. Police reports state she admitted to being “spooked” and in a rush over a personal matter.

Legal Consequences

Bunch now faces multiple criminal charges, including fleeing, speeding, reckless driving, and criminal mischief. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of high-speed pursuits and the inevitability of physics.

Incident Details:

• Date: April 24
• Location: Arkansas construction zone
• Initial Speed: 80 mph in a 45 mph zone
• Peak Speed: 140 mph
• Outcome: Vehicle rolled multiple times, landed upside down
• Driver: Krista Bunch (survived, hospitalized)
• Charges: Fleeing, speeding, reckless driving, criminal mischief