3 In Custody After Stolen Vehicle Crashes Into Tree In Westport: Police

WESTPORT, CT — Three people were taken into custody Thursday morning after a stolen vehicle crashed into a tree on Greens Farms Road, according to Westport police.

Police said officers were alerted overnight Thursday by a stationary license plate reader that a stolen vehicle had entered Westport on Wilton Road near the Merritt Parkway.

Officers searched the surrounding area but were initially unable to locate the vehicle.

Later Thursday morning, an officer spotted the vehicle traveling on Compo Road South near Compo Beach Road, police said.

According to police, the vehicle fled at a high rate of speed after the driver saw a marked police cruiser, disappearing from the officer's view.

Believing the vehicle might be headed toward Interstate 95, the officer continued east on Greens Farms Road and found it crashed into a tree near 142 Greens Farms Road, police said.

The vehicle sustained disabling damage in the crash.

Responding officers subsequently located and took into custody three people believed to have been occupants of the stolen vehicle, according to police.

"Out of an abundance of caution, officers continue to maintain a presence in the surrounding area, since it is characterized by a significant amount of open space," Westport Police Lt. Anthony Prezioso wrote in a statement. "The purpose of this is two-fold. Officers are making a thorough search of the area to be sure that no additional evidence was discarded during the suspects’ initial/unwitnessed flight from the vehicle. Investigators are also continuing to assess whether an additional individual may have been involved in this incident. Currently, there is no reliable information indicating an additional threat to the public, however as always, we urge our residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity."

The Westport Police Department said it would provide additional updates as more information becomes available.