Intoxicated female driving U-HAUL takes Arkansas State Police Trooper on wild ride #pursuit #pit

Trooper's Report: On October 2 2026, at 8:21 pm, I observed a white U-Haul traveling southbound at 61 MPH in a posted 45-MPH zone. I made a U-turn at Community Drive to catch up to the vehicle. As I turned around, the driver, later identified as Casey Whalen, applied her brakes and reduced her speed. Whalen passed Sonic and began swerving within and outside of the lanes of travel. Whalen then passed Harps, which had a large parking lot, and continued southbound. At approximately 8:22, I activated my emergency siren and utilized my spotlight to illuminate the driver-side mirror. Whalen continued southbound and accelerated to approximately 55 MPH near Scott Drive. I notified dispatch that I was in pursuit. Whalen reached approximately 59 MPH, and I attempted a tactical vehicle intervention (TVI); however, the attempt was unsuccessful. Whalen then accelerated to approximately 64 MPH, and I conducted a second TVI. The second TVI was successful, and the vehicles' bumpers became interlocked. The U-Haul struck a mailbox at 2336 Batesville Boulevard and then struck a curb, causing the vehicles’ bumpers to separate. The U-Haul rolled onto its driver’s side and came to rest off the roadway. My patrol unit left the roadway and spun before coming to rest facing southeast. I exited my vehicle with my weapon drawn and observed Whalen sitting on the driver-side door with two dogs. I instructed a Independence County Deputy who arrived to assist, to provide cover while I climbed to the passenger-side door. I opened the door and assisted Whalen out of the U-Haul. While assisting Whalen out of the U-Haul, I detected the odor of an intoxicants coming from her person and saw her eyes were watery. I also observed four beer cans inside the vehicle. Whalen was then placed under arrest. I retrieved my preliminary breath test (PBT) device and requested that Whalen provide a breath sample. Whalen refused. Deputies placed Whalen in the rear of my patrol vehicle, and I transported her to the county jail. At the county jail, I administered standardized field sobriety tests. During the horizontal gaze nystagmus (HGN) test, Whalen displayed six clues. During the instructional phase of the walk-and-turn test, Whalen lost her balance on multiple occasions. Whalen attempted to begin the test before being instructed to do so. I explained the test instructions again and asked whether she had any questions. Whalen stated that she believed she only needed to take three steps. I again explained that she was required to take nine steps. During the walk-and-turn test, Whalen did not maintain heel-to-toe contact on any step and did not count her steps aloud. During the turn, Whalen made one large turn rather than a series of small steps. On the return portion of the test, Whalen stopped and asked what she was supposed to do next. She then took nine steps back but did not maintain heel-to-toe contact or count her steps aloud. During the one-leg stand test, Whalen placed her foot down three times, changed the raised foot each time she resumed the test, and did not count aloud. I then transported Whalen inside the jail, advised her of her Miranda rights, and asked whether she wished to speak with me. Whalen stated that she did not. I then read Whalen the Arkansas DWI Statement of Rights form. Whalen signed the form, indicating that she understood her rights, and refused to submit to a chemical test. While sitting in the BAC room, Whalen stated she was coming from Missouri tonight and headed home. Whalen was placed on a hold for the 16th Judicial Drug Task Force, who will be assisting with filing the felony charges. The suspect will be charged with the following: 27-51-104 — Careless and Prohibited Driving 5-54-125 — Fleeing by Vehicle or Conveyance, Exceeding the Speed Limit, Felony 5-65-103 — Driving While Intoxicated, First Offense 5-65-205 — Refusal to Submit to a Chemical Test 27-51-201 — Speeding More Than 15 MPH Over the Limit 5-71-218 — Open Container Containing Alcohol in a Motor Vehicle Total cost for replacement of the damaged mailbox and post is $250. Damage to the state unit included the left front bumper, left front quarter panel, left front headlight, and front driver-side tire and rim. The estimated cost of repairs was $2,882.00. Damage to the U-Haul estimated at $600