Man charged with leading police on high-speed chase into Saugus

SAUGUS – A Gloucester man is in jail after leading Massachusetts State Police on a 110 mph chase on Route 1 in Saugus early Friday morning that ended in an airborne crash, according to documents filed in Lynn District Court.Michael Martin, 38, of 6 Stone Court, Gloucester, was arrested shortly after midnight Friday and charged with failure to stop for police, speeding, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, marked lanes violation, operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license and OUI liquor, third offense.Lynn District Court Judge Matthew Machera ordered Martin held on $7,500 cash bail at his arraignment Friday.According to the State Police report, Trooper James Maloney spotted a gray Nissan Altima traveling at 75 mph heading from Route 128 to Route 1 South. Maloney stated he followed the vehicle without activating his lights, but after entering Route 1, Maloney stated the car crossed over two lanes of traffic and sped up to approximately 80 to 85 mph as it approached the Lynnfield Tunnel.Maloney wrote in his report that he then activated his blue lights, and after the car slowed down to 65 mph, it accelerated up to approximately 100 to 110 mph as it entered Saugus. The report states the car sped through a work detail set up where only the left lane was open do to road construction in the two right lanes.The report states that after passing through the construction zone, the car attempted to exit onto the parking lot in front of Roller World, hit the curb and went airborne six to eight feet.The car came down on all four wheels about 30 yards into the parking lot and traveled another 70 yards before stopping, said the report.Maloney and Trooper Zachary Bolcome then approached the car with guns drawn, and found the driver in sitting at the wheel not moving and with the airbags deployed, said the report. Maloney wrote that he removed the driver, placed him on the ground and handcuffed him.Troopers identified the driver as Martin, and he was taken to Union Hospital in Lynn after complaining of chest, stomach and lower back pain.Maloney wrote in his report that he asked Martin why he didn’t stop, to which he replied he did not have his driver’s license and was nervous. Maloney stated he could “smell a strong odor of alcoholic beverage coming from his breath and his eyes were extremely bloodshot and glassy.”The report states Martin admitted to drinking “two Sambucas.”At the hospital, the report states Martin refused to consent to a blood test and told Maloney he was “sorry” for putting him and others in danger by “attempting to flee at such a high rate of speed.”According to the report, Martin has previous convictions for OUI, one in Gloucester District Court from 1999 and one in Lawrence District Court from 2003.Martin is due back in court on Nov. 28.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].