A high speed police chase that began in Westchester and crossed the Tappan Zee Bridge ended when the suspect collided head-on with a New York State Trooper's vehicle in Upper Nyack at approximately 12: 20 p.m. Monday.



The driver of the silver Saab being chased was later identified as Carlos M. Soto, 39, of New York City. Soto and and two New York State Troopers were taken to Nyack Hospital with injuries that were not life threatening. Both State Troopers were treated at the hospital and released.



The New York State Police released an update detailing the incident later in the day Monday. The chase began when Soto's Saab was observed going 97 miles per hour on I-87 North in Greenburgh in Westchester County by State Police Troop T of SP Tarrytown. Soto did not stop when the trooper tried to pull him over. He led the chase over the Tappan Zee Bridge, getting off the Thruway at Exit 11. He drove through the Village of Nyack and into the Town of Clarkstown.



Soto drove up North Broadway into Upper Nyack until he came to Nyack Beach State Park. The gate there created a dead end. Soto went the wrong way around the entrance loop and back onto N. Broadway heading south on the north side of the road and struck an oncoming State Trooper's vehicle. The State Trooper, identified at the scene as Sgt. Bill Collins, was injured in the collision, which also disabled the Saab.



According to police, Soto then tried to escape by foot until another State Trooper caught up with him approximately 100 yards away. Soto "violently resisted arrest, physically throwing punches and attempting to gain possession of the State Troooper's Taser and sidearm." Clarsktown Police arrived and assisted in getting Soto into handcuffs.



State Troopers found approximately nine grams of heroin, two grams of cocaine and narcotic pills of Clonazepam during a search of the Saab.



Soto was taken to Nyack Hospital to be treated for cuts to his face and elsewhere on his head suffered during the incident. He is in custody of the New York State Police.



State Police expect to charge him with the following upon his release from Nyack Hospital.