Massachusetts man arrested after chase and crash at Chelmsford cemetery – NBC Boston

A Pepperell, Massachusetts man was arrested Friday after a police chase during which he allegedly drove into a Chelmsford cemetery and ran over a “Wrong Way” sign on Interstate 495.

According to Chelmsford Police, 31-year-old John Boualaphanh faces several charges following the ordeal, including failure to stop for police; operating a motor vehicle without a license (re-offense); operating a motor vehicle without registration; driving without insurance; two counts of hit and run following an accident involving property damage; reckless operation of a motor vehicle and affixing license plates.

According to police, a Chelmsford officer first spotted a Honda Accord traveling on Riverneck Road around 6:30 p.m. and determined that the Honda's license plates actually belonged to a Toyota Sienna.

The officer tried to stop the vehicle, but the driver fled, police said.

A second Chelmsford officer joined the pursuit. As they approached, police noticed the vehicle suddenly spin out and crash into a metal fence at nearby St. Joseph's Cemetery.

The vehicle continued driving and eventually reached the I-495 on-ramp at Chelmsford Street, where the driver allegedly made a U-turn and re-entered the roadway, passing several vehicles, disregarding a stop sign at Fletcher Street, and then turning onto the southbound I-495 on-ramp at North Road.

The vehicle then crossed the grassy median and knocked over a Massachusetts Department of Transportation “Wrong Way” sign, also damaging the front end and bumper of the vehicle, police said.

A Chelmsford Police sergeant monitoring the situation made the decision to call off the pursuit – in line with police policy to avoid high-risk pursuits – and the vehicle's last known location was radioed to police in the area.​

Police said they traced the Honda's license plate to a Pepperell resident.

Chelmsford and Pepperell investigators went to the home where they found the damaged Honda parked. Boualaphanh was arrested without incident, police said. He was being held pending a bail hearing and will likely be arraigned in Lowell District Court on Monday, police said. It was not immediately clear if he had an attorney.