Video shows pickup truck crashing through fence in attempt to evade police in Middleton

The 37-year-old suspect allegedly took methamphetamine before taking police on a high-speed chase through multiple North Shore communities.

A 37-year-old man faces negligent driving and drug charges after allegedly taking police on a wild pursuit through multiple Massachusetts communities on Tuesday.

Around 3:30 p.m. state police joined efforts by Middleton police to stop a Red Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck “that had been operating erratically,” an agency spokesman noted in a release.

The truck’s owner and later confirmed driver, Joseph Kennedy of Malden, reportedly had a history of firearms offenses.

Peabody police initially pursued the truck near Lowell Street, but dropped it around Prospect Street, state police said. Just before 4:30 p.m., Peabody officers came across the truck again and attempted to stop it.

The chase continued into Danvers with state police providing backup to Peabody police. Middleton officers soon joined the efforts as well.

In Middleton, police attempted to surround the suspect, but the driver crashed the truck through a metal fence, as captured in the video below. The truck flew off a 10-foot drop into the parking lot of a car wash and continued eastbound on Route 114, police said.

Kennedy allegedly stopped the truck on Cemetery Road in Danvers and attempted to run into nearby woods. State police caught up — deploying a K9 unit to stop the suspect — and took him into custody.

Investigators said they later learned that Kennedy had taken methamphetamine ahead of the incident. An ambulance with a state police escort transported the suspect to an area hospital for evaluation prior to booking.

State police charged Kennedy with operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs (second offense), failure to stop for police, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, speeding, marked lanes violation, and motor vehicle equipment violation, the agency said.

On Wednesday, a bail clerk ordered Kennedy held without bail pending arraignment in Salem District Court.

Middleton police also filed an “immediate threat” notification with the Registry of Motor Vehicles in regard to Kennedy’s license to drive.

Watch video of the pursuit as shared by WBZ-TV below: