Hasselt Chase: 19-Year-Old on Parole Hits 200 km/h, Liège Investigation

Hasselt (Brusselos Morning Newspaper) – Police chased a car in Hasselt after spotting stolen plates. The 19‑year‑old driver, already on parole, hit 200 km/h before arrest. Liège prosecutors continue to investigate with possible additional charges.

According to VRT Nieuws, police chased a pursuing vehicle in Hasselt on Tuesday morning, July 29, 2025, after officers saw stolen license plates. When officers attempted to make a stop, the young driver sped off in the vehicle. The driver went the wrong way, blew through red lights, drove with flat tires and a flat tire.

The car hit speeds of more than 200 kilometres per hour. On the E313, a motorcycle officer almost crashed. Later, the driver reversed toward another officer to get away, said Rosalie Heinen from the Liège prosecutor’s office.

Why did a 19‑year‑old on parole speed through Limburg and Liège to escape police?

The chase ended in Bassenge when Walloon police blocked the car and stopped it from getting away. A 19‑year‑old woman in the car was arrested right away. The driver ran off but was caught a short distance later. Both were taken into custody and questioned by police. Investigators are now trying to find out why they fled, how the stolen plates were used, and if they are linked to other crimes. 

“During questioning, the 19-year-old passenger, who had no criminal record, stated that she had bought the vehicle for her boyfriend and that the false license plate was already on it. She doesn’t know why he wanted to flee,”

Heinen said.

The 19‑year‑old driver in the high‑speed chase was already known to police before the incident. Investigators said he was out on parole and had a court hearing in Hasselt at 10:30 a.m. on July 29, 2025. When officers questioned him, he admitted he was driving the car and said he had borrowed it from a friend. He also told police he did not have a valid driver’s license.

“He didn’t want to injure any police officers or cause any accidents. He just wanted to escape from the police. He also stated that he backed up to get away from where he was standing,”

Heinen added.

The young driver told police he ran because he panicked when he saw them. He said he was scared and worried about being late for his court hearing that morning. That is why he drove so fast, even reaching 150 miles an hour during the chase. 

He also told officers he did not know the car had stolen license plates. The public prosecutor’s office in Liège is still looking into what happened and will decide if there will be more charges against him.

A similar case happened earlier this year when another young driver sped away from police during a traffic stop in Namur. That driver also said he panicked and lost control of the car after seeing flashing lights in the mirror. 

He was later caught and admitted to driving without a license, but claimed he did not know the car he was using had been reported stolen. Prosecutors in that case also kept the file open to check if more charges were needed.