Gridlock foils woman's escape

MANATEE --
A Tampa woman speeding from officers in Hillsborough County had to give up her getaway when she drove into the closed portion of Interstate 75 in Manatee.

Florida Department of Transportation officers said about 1:40 p.m. Thursday, Martina Hood, 31, reached speeds of more than 140 mph on I-75 speeding from them after they tried to pull her over in Hillsborough County.

The officers chased Hood south into Manatee where she pulled away from officers already driving 147 mph, according to a reports.

Florida Highway Patrol troopers eventually tracked Hood down after she had to stop in gridlocked traffic at I-75 and U.S. 301, reports said.

The I-75 bridge over U.S. 301 has been closed since a tanker careened from the highway down onto U.S. 301 Wednesday.

Hood was arrested on a charge of reckless driving and taken to the Manatee County jail.