MIDDLETOWN — A motorcycle rider allegedly under the influence of drugs ended up in the hospital after he led authorities on a high-speed chase Thursday night.
On patrol near Spruce Grove Road Extension on Highway 29, CHP Sgt. David Stark spotted Clearlake resident Floyd Self, 46, riding a 2002 Suzuki motorcycle at 80 miles per hour. He was headed south on Highway 29 at 7:45 p.m. When CHP officer Brendan Bach joined the pursuit, Self ignored the red lights and sirens of both CHP cars in pursuit.
Bach said he radioed Napa Area CHP to gets its helicopter ready as the pursuit headed south. Self sped up to 100 miles per hour as the chase continued for almost six miles into the heart of downtown Middletown.
“I was able to block him (Self) from going down Stewart Road. That would send him past the high school and out toward Harbin Hot Springs, which would be more advantageous for a motorcycle because it”s narrow and winding. And there could be a farmer”s gate open that would allow him to go off-road where we couldn”t go,” Bach said.
Bach ordered traffic at the intersection of Stewart Road and Highway 29 to freeze in place over his public address system. Self slowed to 70 miles per hour in order to maneuver around the stopped vehicles just north of the Middletown post office, according to Bach.
“It might have saved his life in the end,” Bach said.
Self lost control and ran off of the east edge of Highway 29 near Hill Avenue. He was thrown from the motorcycle and hit several branches of a lone Douglas fir tree nearby before landing 73 feet from the road, according to Bach. The motorcycle cartwheeled and landed about 120 feet from the road.
Self was flown by REACH to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital with compound fractures of both legs, according to a CHP report.
“Compound fractures refers to the bone being exposed outside of the skin ? it was pretty gruesome. That”s definitely punishment enough,” Bach said.
Self is expected to be in the hospital”s intensive care unit for several days and to undergo major surgery, according to a CHP report. Bach said fresh needle marks in Self”s arm and a small amount of methamphetamine in his pocket lead authorities to believe he was under the influence of the drug at the time.
Bach said Self admitted to fleeing because his license was suspended, and because he was using a friend”s motorcycle without permission. The motorcycle”s owner did not report the bike stolen.
“When he (Self) is more medically ready, he will have a day in court. Technically, he”s out of custody, but he will have to appear. The date was not set because of his medical injuries,” Bach said.
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