Arkansas Trooper's 133 MPH PIT Maneuver Ends in Violent Crash, Sparking High-Speed PIT Debate

An Arkansas State Police trooper’s attempt to end a high-speed pursuit using a Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT) maneuver at approximately 133 mph (214 km/h) on April 24, 2026, resulted in a violent crash, underscoring the dangers of such tactics at extreme speeds.

Dashcam footage from the incident, recorded at 9:31 PM, shows Trooper Collier Wright of the Arkansas State Police executing the PIT maneuver on a suspect driving a Ford Fusion. Within seconds, the maneuver went catastrophically wrong. Instead of disabling the suspect’s vehicle, both cars collided, sending the suspect’s car into a highway barrier. Trooper Wright lost control of his patrol vehicle, narrowly avoiding three innocent motorists ahead of him before crashing into the right barrier at over 100 mph (160 km/h). His vehicle then crossed traffic, struck the opposite barrier, and slid backward along a concrete K-rail.

It remains unclear whether officers successfully secured the suspect after the crash. The severity of the incident has raised serious concerns about the potential for loss of life and the appropriateness of using PIT maneuvers at such high speeds.

Why Most Agencies Restrict High-Speed PIT Maneuvers

Many law enforcement agencies across the U.S. impose strict speed limits—or outright bans—on PIT maneuvers, particularly on busy highways. For example:

• California Highway Patrol: Caps PIT maneuvers at 35 mph (56 km/h).
• North Carolina Highway Patrol: Allows PIT up to 55 mph (89 km/h).
• Other agencies: Classify PIT maneuvers exceeding their speed thresholds as the use of deadly force.

The reasoning is clear: at triple-digit speeds, the physics of vehicle dynamics become unpredictable. Tires do not break traction as expected, vehicle rotation is erratic, and even minor miscalculations can lead to high-energy crashes capable of involving nearby motorists.

Is This Incident an Outlier for Arkansas State Police?

While high-speed pursuits are not uncommon, this incident stands out as an extreme example even within the Arkansas State Police. Speculation suggests Trooper Wright may have been motivated by the suspect’s proximity to the state line, potentially eager to stop them before they exited jurisdictional reach. However, the risks of such high-speed tactics appear to have outweighed any potential benefits in this case.

We have reached out to Trooper Collier Wright for comment and will update this report if additional information becomes available.