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The driver of the tow truck, Jheison Callecastro, 21, of Ossining, N.Y., was arrested on I-95 in Greenwich by Connecticut State Troopers from Troop G in Bridgeport.
The chase began at about 2:30 a.m. Saturday, July 9, when the White Plains Police Department notified Troop G that they were in pursuit of a Bob’s Towing flatbed tow truck on I-95 northbound that was entering Connecticut, according to police.
White Plains Police said the tow truck was suspected of involvement in a hit-and-run accident involving a pedestrian. White Plains police gave up the chase at Exit 3 on I-95 Northbound in Greenwich.
Troop G troopers positioned on the Exit 3 entrance ramp saw the tow truck, and attempted to stop it by boxing it in. The tow truck tried to hit the cruisers, but kept going. Connecticut state police initiated a pursuit.
A trooper at I-95 northbound at Exit 8 set up stop sticks. But the tow truck did not strike the stop sticks and continued northbound on I-95. Callecastro exited the highway at Exit 14 in Norwalk, then re-entered I-95 southbound.
A state police sergeant working at a construction project set up stop sticks at Exit 8 on I-95 southbound. That deflated the front right tire of the tow truck. However, Callecastro continued to drive.
Another duty sergeant set up with stop sticks at the southbound Exit 4 off ramp and deflated the front left tire.
During this time, the sergeant from the construction job and another trooper continued south and set up stop sticks on southbound I-95 just before Exit 3.
The sergeant was posted in the median shoulder and the trooper was posted in the right shoulder, with stop sticks set across all three southbound lanes.
As the tow truck approached the location, Callecastro intentionally swerved into the sergeant's cruiser.
The sergeant was able to jump on top of the median barrier to avoid being struck. Both vehicles sustained severe damage and the tow truck became fully engulfed with flames.
Norwalk police officers and and a trooper removed Callecastro from the tow truck, saving him from the burning vehicle, and placed him in custody without incident.
The accident was captured on the trooper's dash cam and it was evident that Callecastro intentionally struck the cruiser.
No force was used, and no injuries were sustained as a result of this incident. Both vehicles sustained heavy damage.
Callecastro was taken into custody, arrested and transported to Troop G.
Norwalk Police, MTA Police, White Plains Police, Greenwich Fire Department and Ambulance, and Cos Cob Fire Department all assisted in the incident and were on the scene.
Callecastro was charged with criminal attempt/assault on a police officer, second-degree criminal attempt/assault with a motor vehicle, first-degree criminal mischief, engaging in pursuit, reckless driving, first-degree reckless endangerment, DWI and operating without a license. He was held on $150,000 bond. Details of his court appearance were not released.
No details were released on the possible hit-and-run case in White Plains, but state police said charges were pending in New York.
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