Salisbury, PA – A Philadelphia man, Keniel Ian Junio Wright, 19, was sentenced to three and a half to 10 years in prison Thursday for a dangerous high-speed chase in Lehigh County in May 2024, officials announced.
The incident, which nearly resulted in collisions with Pennsylvania State troopers and road workers, has drawn attention for its recklessness and scale.
Charges and Guilty Plea
Wright, who was 17 at the time of the chase, pled guilty on October 7 to multiple charges, including:
- Aggravated assault
- Fleeing or attempting to elude an officer
- Receiving stolen property
- Recklessly endangering another person
As per CBS News, he also received fines totaling $275 for traffic-related offenses.
Details of the Chase
On May 9, 2024, a state trooper spotted Wright driving erratically and speeding westbound on Lincoln Highway near Brackbill Road in Salisbury Township, Lehigh County. When the trooper attempted a traffic stop, Wright refused to pull over, initiating a nine-mile high-speed chase.
During the pursuit:
- Wright sped through an active construction zone, nearly hitting five road workers
- He entered oncoming traffic multiple times, almost causing a head-on collision with a tractor-trailer
- Speeds reportedly exceeded 130 mph
- Troopers deployed spike strips, but Wright continued until crashing the stolen vehicle on the 2400 block of Lincoln Highway East in East Lampeter Township, damaging a sign and shrubs
Officials said Wright had stolen the car a day prior in Philadelphia, forcibly taking it from the owner and injuring him in the process.
Court Remarks and Sentence
While handing down the sentence, Judge Jeffrey Conrad compared Wright’s reckless actions to the Grand Theft Auto video game, warning: “You could have been killed that night.”
The judge encouraged Wright to use his prison time to pursue educational and vocational opportunities and to emerge as a better person. Wright’s attorney added that, as a teenager, Wright was not fully aware of the consequences of his actions but now recognizes the serious danger he posed to himself and others.
What are your thoughts on high-speed chases and teen offenders?
Share your opinion in the comments — should juveniles face adult-level consequences for reckless crimes like this, or is rehabilitation the priority?
