23-year-old Chad Kates was seen in a silver 2018 Chevy Spark speeding out of the Waffle House parking lot on Clarksville Pike at 5 a.m. on July 13th. The vehicle was seen driving so recklessly that officers believed it was stolen. Officers followed the car while it continued to accelerate at a high speed. The vehicle was observed committing numerous traffic violations while pulling away from officers going 80 mph. Officers noted that the Chevy Spark was going at least double the speed limit on Rosa Parks Boulevard. In fear for the safety of other drivers, they activated their emergency lights in an attempt to stop the car. The vehicle was very slow to stop, but it eventually stopped on Athens Way. When officers made contact with the driver, who was later identified as Kates, they asked him if he had any reason to be a driver that fast. Kates responded that his car “only has 100 horsepower” and denied doing anything wrong. Upon further investigation, it was found that according to General Motors, a Chevy Spark’s top speed is about 117 mph. Using this information, officers determined that Kates was driving near the maximum speed his car can travel. Chad Kates was taken into custody and charged with drag racing and reckless endangerment.
Chad Kates speeds down Rosa Parks Boulevard at 80 mph in Chevy Spark, tells police his car “only has 100 horsepower”
