CLEARLAKE – A police pursuit early Wednesday morning reportedly resulted in the suspect car crashing and the driver fleeing the area.
The Clearlake Police Department (CPD) said an officer noticed a suspicious silver Lexus on 18th Avenue near Boyles Avenue around 12:44 a.m.
The vehicle pulled over to the side of the road, turned off its lights as the officer approached, and then quickly turned them back on before making a U-turn, according to CPD.
The driver of the Lexus was reported to be a Hispanic man.
The officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop but the Lexus fled at a high rate of speed, resulting in a pursuit for several blocks, the CPD said.
The officer reportedly lost sight of the vehicle briefly because of poor visibility from roadway dust.
CPD said the officer soon found the Lexus at the intersection of 21st Avenue and Phillips Avenue where the car had slid off of the road and hit a tree.
The driver had apparently fled on foot, as the driver”s door was open, according to CPD.
Officers reportedly discovered two passengers in the vehicle: Leona Delapena, 28, of Ukiah and Jason Steele, 20, of Ukiah.
Both passengers complained of pain, were transported to St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake and Steele was later taken by helicopter to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, according to CPD.
Delapena initially reported that she and Steele had been carjacked at gunpoint by a Hispanic man at a gas station, the CPD said. However during questioning, Delapena became uncooperative and refused to provide any statements regarding the reported carjacking, the CPD said.
The incident remains under investigation. People with information can contact Officer B. Middleton at 994-8251.
