LAKE COUNTY ? A high-speed pursuit ended just east of the Lake-Colusa county line on Highway 20 Wednesday morning, according to California Highway Patrol officials.
Two El Dorado County men were arrested at the end of the nearly 40-mile chase when the pursued vehicle experienced what appeared to be transmission problems, according to public information officer John Waggoner at the Williams-area CHP office. The chase began when a Williams-area CHP officer on speed patrol saw a 1990 Plymouth Acclaim headed north on Interstate 5 at approximately 90 miles per hour.
“He made a U-turn in the center divide and proceeded to overtake the vehicle, at which point the vehicle exited the northbound I-5 at State Route 20,” Waggoner said.
According to Waggoner, the vehicle ran the stop sign at the end of the off-ramp and headed west on Highway 20. The chase continued at speeds greater than 90 miles per hour, while the officer saw the Plymouth crossing double-yellow lines to pass other vehicles. No crashes or injuries were reported as a result of the chase, according to Waggoner.
Waggoner said the right-front passenger, identified as Oregon resident Misti Wilson, 19, appeared to open her door just before the vehicle stopped. She and passengers Miracle Wilson, 20, of El Dorado County, and Joshua Pine, 29, of El Dorado County, stayed with the Plymouth when driver Abram Sassenberg, 27, of El Dorado County, ran away.
“We believe what happened was the vehicle ended up having mechanical failure with the transmission because the speeds did decrease, and the lead patrol vehicle in pursuit ended up with quite a bit oil on the front windshield ? we think it was transmission fluid,” Waggoner said.
According to Clear Lake-area CHP officer Adam Garcia, the vehicle stopped near Gravel Plant Road, approximately seven miles east of Walker Ridge Road.
Clear Lake-area CHP units and more Williams-area CHP units arrived and helped conduct a 45-minute search for the driver. Sassenberg was found hiding facedown in the bushes, according to Waggoner. Sassenberg had a warrant out for his arrest on a charge of violating his parole, according to Waggoner.
“According to the report, the other passengers were telling him (Sassenberg) to stop,” Waggoner said.
All four of the vehicle”s occupants were taken to the Williams-area CHP office, where Waggoner said they were interviewed in separate rooms. Sassenberg”s two female passengers were released without charges. Waggoner said Sassenberg was arrested on charges of evading a peace officer and violating his parole, and that Pine was arrested on a charge of violating his parole for being in the company of another parolee.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com, or call her directly at 263-5636 ext. 37.
