Release Date/Time: 8/5/2016 12:37 AM
Incident: Pursuit Crash
Report #: 16 08 0281
Date: Friday, 8/5/2016
Time: 9:27 PM
Location: Airport Blvd. / Hwy 101
An officer was driving in the area of John and Alisal when he observed a 2004 Chevy Tahoe driving through the intersection on Alisal with a flat tire. The vehicle was weaving and the driver possibly intoxicated. The officer caught up to the vehicle and when he tried to stop it the pursuit was on. The Tahoe took off on Sky Way at approximately 60 mph with the flat tire. The vehicle reached speeds over 80 mph on Airport Blvd. and lost control just past Moffett. The vehicle went off the road and over the embankment and rolled hitting a couple of trees. By the time officers made it safely to the crashed vehicle the driver was nowhere to be found, and the vehicle was on fire. There was damage to the windshield and it is possible the driver was injured and possibly even ejected. An exhaustive search was conducted for the driver utilizing multiple officers, FLIR, and K9s; however, the driver was not located. The investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Salinas Police Department at (831) 758-7321. If you would like to remain anonymous, you can call the Salinas Police Department Tip Line at (831) 775-4222, or the We-Tip Line at 1-800-78 CRIME, or text information to the Text to the Text Tip Line with the code "SPD831" to "847411".
Release Authorized by: Cmdr. John C. Murray
Telephone: (831) 758-7250