Driver arrested after 110 mph run on I-405

Driver arrested after 110 mph run on I-405

This image shows the speeding car as seen from the state patrol's aircraft.

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Story Published: Feb 25, 2008 at 10:11 AM PDT

Story Updated: Feb 26, 2008 at 11:05 AM PDT

By KOMO Staff

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KIRKLAND, Wash. -- State troopers arrested a driver Monday morning who they say was clocked going 110 miles per hour on Interstate 405.

The speeding driver was spotted on southbound I-405 in the Canyon Park area about 8:30 a.m. by a state patrol aircraft that was flying a routine patrol.

"We were on routine patrol during rush hour this morning," said State Patrol pilot Troy Davis. "Out of the corner of my eye, I saw this blue streak streaking down on the freeway on southbound 405. That really got our attention as he was passing a lot of traffic at a high rate of speed."

Davis says his colleague in the plane used aircraft marks on the freeway to calculate the driver's speed and clocked the man at 104 mph during the first check, then the driver continued to speed up to 110 mph.

Traffic was light, Davis said, and the driver was driving in the carpool lane with a passenger.

"He was able to get a nice long straight stretch and he really let it have it," Davis said. "I'm sure all the cars around were wondering, 'Gosh, where's a trooper when you need one?' Well, there was a trooper when they needed one -- we were straight up in the air watching this guy drive like a jerk."

As the vehicle began weaving in and out of traffic, Davis directed troopers on the ground to the vehicle and they were able to stop him near the Northeast 124th Street exit.

"This guy is out risking people's lives," Davis said. "We're up daily every morning during rush hour and this is exactly the driving behavior that we're out there to stop and find these types of drivers."

Sgt. Keith Trowbridge said the car was not stolen and there were no indications that the driver was intoxicated.

Vitaly Vanags, 23, of Everett, was arrested for investigation of reckless driving and cited for driving without insurance.

Troopers also seized his car.

Davis said others considering driving like that should beware:

"When we're up in the airplane every day, it's easy to spot the motorcycles; it's easy to spot the cars (driving recklessly) because we can see for a mile or two in every direction. So if we're out there and we're over them, we're going to catch them."

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