Yes, it was a "Little Red Corvette." And no, he couldn't drive 55. Or 155 for that matter.
A Menahga, Minn. man had the distinction of Minnesota's fastest speeding ticket in July, with a self-reported 178 miles per hour in a red 2009 Chevrolet Corvette.
Around 9:30 p.m. on July 9, Michael James Johnson, 40, of Stocking Lake Road, was observed by a Wadena County sheriff's deputy and two Menahga police officers driving very fast on Wadena County Road 31. Despite not getting a radar fix on the vehicle, the three cars pursued.
"We finally got him to stop on County Road 23 near Jim Cook Lake," said Luke Manderschied, the sheriff's deputy.
Manderschied said Johnson had to slow down because of a vehicle ahead of him and a stop sign, and law enforcement personnel were able to catch up. When he approached the vehicle, Manderschied asked Johnson what the "big hurry" was, according to court documents, and Johnson replied that he was just having fun. Asked how fast he thought he was going, Johnson told Manderschied he "can't even imagine."
ADVERTISEMENT
Johnson told the sheriff's deputy he and a passenger were coming from a club. According to court records, Johnson failed two of three field sobriety tests and took a breath test which registered .115. After taking Johnson to jail, the passenger in Johnson's vehicle admitted to the tow truck driver that they were traveling 178 miles per hour.
Johnson was charged with fourth-degree DWI and careless driving, and a pre-trial hearing was set for Aug. 30 in Wadena County District Court.
Johnson did not return a phone call seeking comment.
