Corvette C4 Seized, Owner Arrested After High-Speed Chase In North Carolina

A Chevrolet Corvette C4 has been seized and its owner taken to jail following a high-speed car chase in Johnston County, North Carolina.

According to WRAL.com, the Corvette C4 was involved in a race with another vehicle on Cleveland Road in Smithfield when the two drivers (who reportedly did not know each other) passed a State Highway Patrol trooper. The trooper gave chase, which was no easy task as the cars were estimated as traveling at around 130 mph.

Chevrolet Corvette C4 (used for illustrational purposes only, not actual photo of C4 in question)

The other car was not involved for much longer because it broke down – perhaps fortunately, given the way the story was to develop. The Corvette C4, meanwhile, continued on its way for some considerable distance.

The situation became critical for the Chevy driver when he reached the intersection of Cleveland Road and NC Highway 210 and was faced with the choice of either making a sharp right turn followed by a sharp left (which would have required both considerable driving smarts and a law-abiding sensibility he had not shown up to this point) or heading straight on down the wrong side of the road.

Whichever of these options he picked, it must have been the wrong one, since he lost control and crashed into a guardrail. There were no injuries, and the Corvette C4 sustained what WRAL.com describes as “only minor damage”, though it can’t have been in as good a condition as it was when the owner bought it only days before.

Under North Carolina’s controversial “Run and You’re Done” law, which came into effect on June 23rd 2011, both cars were seized and both drivers were being held at the Johnston County Jail with charges pending against them.

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David has been writing about motoring and motorsport since he was 13 and racing since he was 19. He is British, and therefore apologizes for taking up too much of your time.

David Finlay

David has been writing about motoring and motorsport since he was 13 and racing since he was 19. He is British, and therefore apologizes for taking up too much of your time.

View Comments

  • I have a friend that loves the C4 I wanna tell him to get a life. A low point in Corvette history in my opinion. I purchased a Hellcat last yr cause I'm a 50 yr old speed freak. I could not drive her responsibly. We saw 175 together on a quiet morning, I got out alive and sold her. Until you run a supercar you haven't driven.

  • He needs his man card yanked only 130 and couldn't keep from hitting a guard rail in a car capable of over 1g in a skidpad test pathetic.

  • I had a 85 C4 and I took it to 150 even though it's a bottom feeder that front end with very light. GM said that it's top speed is 150 for a C4. My 98 does 160 easy with throttle leftover haven't seen much more than that! Stuff happens quicker the faster you go! Aka cows,deer,hogs,slow drivers.

  • 79 short bed stepside c10 small block 383stroker I backed off at 145 because my passenger was trying to climb in the glove box!!!

  • I love my 85 and will NEVER know how fast it will go. Freeway speed is enough for me. I laugh at the idiots hating on the C4, these clueless children should look up Sledgehammer Corvette and realize that the C4 will always hold the record for the worlds fastest production car for the longest time. 25 years, beat that with whatever sad joke you are currently running.. 😎👌

    • We wouldn't have a C8 if it wasn't for the popularity of the C4 a crisp new design after the long boring run of the C3 same body and truck suspension since 1968. It brought the Vette back from almost extinction.

  • It's All relative. All you guys sound "real" slow.
    Try the Autobahn you wusses!
    120-130 on the entrance ramp just getting on!
    Ya'll in the junior leagues kids!

  • I have a 90 c4 and it's plenty fast and I love it those that hate have never had a relationship with a c4. It has set set records that still stand today!

  • My 22 year old son has a Super charged 06 C6
    Z06 that tipped 210 before letting off. C4 lol what a joke!

  • Grew up on those exact streets ..My family still lives just 3 miles from that intersection. ...Love speed like the next guy...but buried too many friends in high school on those roads.....Yes I've at 130 plus on hwy 42 .....a coffin changes that.....prefer predictable options. At 58 yo

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