A Florida teenager is facing criminal charges after authorities say he drove a Ford Mustang GT at extreme speeds on a central Florida highway, prompting a high-speed pursuit by a state trooper driving the same model vehicle.
According to a report from CBS 10 Tampa, the incident occurred around 1:30 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 4, on Interstate 4 in Hillsborough County. A trooper with the Florida Highway Patrol observed a Mustang GT traveling at an estimated 95 miles per hour while passing other vehicles and changing lanes without signaling. Authorities noted that road conditions were wet at the time.
Police said that when the trooper attempted to catch up, the driver accelerated sharply. The Mustang GT allegedly reached a top speed of 154 miles per hour during the pursuit. The vehicle involved appeared to be an S550-generation Mustang GT, which is electronically limited to a top speed of approximately 155 miles per hour, indicating the car was operating near its maximum capability.
The pursuit was unusual in that the trooper was driving a Mustang GT patrol vehicle, allowing officers to close the distance despite the excessive speed. Authorities said the driver eventually noticed the emergency lights and siren and pulled over without further incident.
The driver was identified as 19-year-old Cirilo Rayo-Callejas. He was taken into custody at the scene and transported to the Hillsborough County Jail, where he was booked on charges including reckless driving and dangerous excessive speeds.
Because the alleged speed exceeded 100 miles per hour, the case falls under Florida’s Super Speeder law, which went into effect last July. Under the statute, a first-time offense can result in penalties of up to 30 days in jail, a $500 fine, or both.
The arrest comes amid a recent string of high-speed incidents involving Ford Mustangs across the country, raising renewed concerns among law enforcement about extreme speeding and driver behavior. Authorities emphasized that wet road conditions and late-night traffic further increased the risk posed by the alleged actions, and the investigation remains ongoing.