Update: Driver arrested after leading police on high-speed chase through San Luis Obispo County
Update, 5 p.m.
The California Highway Patrol arrested a Paso Robles woman after a 45-minute, high-speed pursuit from Santa Maria to Atascadero that resulted in a rollover crash of another vehicle.
Around noon Friday, Santa Maria Police Department officers began pursuing a 2013 white Honda Civic because the suspected the driver was under the influence, according to a news release.
The pursuit was initially called off when the vehicle was seen headed northbound on Highway 101 from Betteravia Road, the release said. However, Santa Maria area CHP officers continued to look for the vehicle and requested the CHP air unit to assist, according to the release.
Shortly after, dispatchers received a report that the same vehicle was driving recklessly on northbound Highway 101 at Teft Street near San Luis Obispo, the release said.
San Luis Obispo units attempted to stop the vehicle on Highway 101 at Fourth Street, but were unsuccessful, the release said. The chase continued, exceeding speeds of 100 miles per hour, according to the release.
At two points, spike strips were deployed to stop the vehicle, but both were unsuccessful, according to the release.
As the driver approached Santa Barbara Road near Atascadero, she used the median to attempt to pass a black Volkswagen Atlas, but instead collided with the vehicle, the release said.
The collision sent the Volkswagen across the No. 2 lane and up an embankment where it overturned, according to the California Highway Patrol. A woman in the Volkswagen sustained minor injuries and received medical aid from CHP units, the release said.
The Honda Civic continued on and exited at Santa Barbara Road, headed toward Atascadero, according to the release. The CHP ended the chase shortly after when the car slowed on Atascadero Avenue around 12:45 p.m.
According to the CHP, the driver of the car resisted arrest by kicking and biting officers. She was restrained with control holds, the release said.
The driver and sole vehicle occupant was identified as Miranda Baro, 30, of Paso Robles, the CHP said. She was arrested on suspicion of felony evading and driving under the influence of intoxicants, along with other charges, according to the release.
Baro was transported to Twin Cities Community Hospital in Templeton for a chemical test, the release said.
According to the CHP. the San Luis Obispo area office is investigating the collision, and the Templeton area office is handling the arrest investigation.
Update, 2:10 p.m.
The California Highway Patrol confirmed that a person who led multiple agencies on a high-speed chase Friday afternoon was arrested.
The sole occupant of the vehicle was arrested near Highway 58 at 12:45 p.m. The CHP said spikes that had been set up in the area were not used to stop the vehicle.
According to CHP incident logs, a vehicle rolled over near Highway 101 and the Santa Barbara Road off-ramp in Templeton, where the pursuit had passed. The CHP logs reported that the rollover crash resulted in minor injuries.
A CHP officer told The Tribune that he did not know whether the Honda Civic crashed into the vehicle causing the rollover, or if the rollover was a result of the pursuit.
Update, 12:40 p.m.
The vehicle was on Atascadero Avenue approaching Highway 58 at a slowed speed of about 35 mph around 12:40 pm. Friday, according to scanner traffic.
Authorities set up a spike just north of Highway 58, according to scanner traffic.
Original story
Authorities were on a high-speed pursuit on northbound Highway 101 at midday Friday, according to scanner traffic.
The pursuit began in Santa Maria around noon Friday when reports of a potential drunk driver came in, according to scanner traffic.
By 12:30 p.m., the vehicle was in San Luis Obispo.
The white car, supposedly driven by a transient woman known to police, was driving up to 100 miles per hour on all lanes of the freeway and the right shoulder before exiting on Madonna Road, according to scanner traffic.
According to scanner traffic, the vehicle was headed back to the freeway and vehicles were still in pursuit as of 12:35 p.m.
This story was originally published August 14, 2020 at 12:38 PM.
