CLINTON — Maine State Police were led on a nearly 50-mile chase on Interstate 95 on July 4, as a driver in a stolen vehicle attempted to flee the scene at speeds over 100 mph.

According to a post on the Maine State Police Facebook page, Sgt. Matt Casavant was patrolling I-95 when he attempted to pull over a silver 1997 Jeep from New Hampshire for a traffic violation. The Jeep stopped briefly and Casavant interacted with the driver, who was identified as 54-year-old Christos Kassaras, of Goffstown, New Hampshire. Kassaras then fled from the scene.

Casavant pursued the Jeep, and it was determined the vehicle was stolen out of New Hampshire.

Kassaras reached speeds of 112 miles per hour. Spike strips were deployed in Newburgh southwest from Bangor. Kassaras continued driving on I-95 toward Bangor on the wheel rims of the car in a chase that lasted about 47 miles.

Exiting the interstate at Broadway, Kassaras was stopped by police using a Precision Immobilization Technique, a maneuver in which a pursuing car bumps a fleeing car, forcing it to abruptly turn sideways.

Kassaras resisted arrest but was taken into custody and identified. He was transported to Eastern Maine Medical Center, where he was cleared, and was then taken to the Penobscot County Jail.

Kassaras was charged with eluding an officer, criminal speeding, driving to endanger, unauthorized use of property, refusing to submit to arrest, and passing a roadblock.

Colin Ellis — 861-9253

cellis@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @colinoellis