Motorcycle racer becomes target of Arkansas State Police #pursuit #chase

Trooper's Report: On September 25th, 2026, at approximately 10:14 p.m., I, Trooper Tanner Mathis was traveling south on Interstate 540 near the 13-mile marker. Ahead of me, I observed 3 motorcycles that I believed to be racing. The lead motorcycle caught my attention because it used the right shoulder to pass another vehicle. I began catching up to the motorcycles when I approached three sports cars that I believed to be with the motorcycles. Two of the sports cars were traveling in the inside and outside lanes on Interstate 540, side by side, traveling at approximately 55 miles per hour. I believed these two vehicles were blocking traffic so the motorcycles could race. I was able to use my siren and passed a Ford Mustang using the inside shoulder and began catching up to the motorcycles. Once caught up to the lead motorcycle, I noticed it did not display a license plate. I activated my emergency equipment and attempted to conduct a traffic stop before the 14-mile marker exit. I pulled my patrol vehicle in front of the motorcycle and began slowly pulling to the right shoulder. The motorcycle failed to yield and passed me at a high rate of speed. I notified Troop H Communications that a motorcycle was fleeing from me, and we were headed southbound towards the Arkansas and Oklahoma state line. Before entering Oklahoma, I estimated the motorcycle's speed at 140 miles per hour in a posted 65 mile per hour zone. The pursuit continued into Oklahoma traveling west on U.S. Highway 271. As we entered the Pocola city limits, speeds were approximately 120 miles per hour with moderate traffic. We approached the intersection of U.S. Highway 271 and North Pocola Boulevard, where I observed the motorcycle passing a vehicle on the right shoulder. We both cleared the intersection and continued west on U.S. Highway 271. While pursuing on U.S. Highway 271, traffic was light, and the suspect vehicle's speed reached 148 miles per hour, confirmed by radar. We then entered the Spiro city limits, where speeds reduced to approximately 48 miles per hour. During this time, I used my PA system and attempted to talk the suspect into pulling over. The suspect ignored commands and continued fleeing west. Shortly after this, I observed two marked police units with their emergency equipment activated. Upon seeing this, the suspect turned south onto South Ash Street. Once on South Ash Street, speeds reached approximately 100 miles per hour. We approached the end of South Ash Street, where the suspect vehicle continued south on a private driveway. The suspect then began driving in the backyard of 21001 Jake Smith Road. During this time, I again used my PA system and attempted to get the suspect to stop. The suspect continued to ignore commands. We made our way back to the roadway and began travelling east on Jake Smith Road. We came to the end of Jake Smith Road and entered another private drive at 20664 Jake Smith Road. The suspect drove in the front yard of this residence before making his way back to the roadway. The pursuit continued north on 208th Avenue, and then east on County Road E 1235. At approximately 10:26 p.m., while on County Road E 1235, the suspect failed to negotiate a curve and collided with the tree line on the left side of the road. I exited my patrol vehicle and began checking on the suspect, who was identified as Zeth Cameron Golay. Golay was found to be unarmed and complained of left wrist pain. I escorted Golay to my patrol vehicle, where I placed wrist restraints to the front of his person to avoid further injury and pain. Golay stated he fled law enforcement because he has prior traffic citations that are still pending and that he was in fear of losing his driver’s license. Leflore County EMS arrived on scene, and Golay was transported to Eastern Oklahoma Medical Center in Poteau, where he was treated and transported to the Leflore County jail by Deputy Trace Brooks. I am seeking charges for the following: 5-54-125(d)(2) FLEEING - VEHICLE OR CONVEYENCE – EXCEEDING THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT - FELONY 27-50-308 RECKLESS DRIVING 1ST OFFENSE 27-50-309 RACING ON PUBLIC HIGHWAY 27-14-701 OWNER FAIL TO REGISTER VEHICLE 27-14-1005 FAIL TO AFFIX LICENSE PLATE 27-51-308 IMPROPER PASSING ON THE RIGHT