Man in stolen car hit 125 mph in chase through SLO County, CHP says
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The driver who was chased into San Luis Obispo County by law enforcement and apprehended using spike strips on Tuesday was driving a stolen vehicle that reached speeds of up to 125 mph, the CHP said.
A CHP officer first saw driver Oscar Zavala using a phone while driving southbound on Highway 101 near Los Lobos Road in Monterey County around 12:47 p.m. on Tuesday, according to a Wednesday news release.
The CHP moved to pull over Zavala — who at first complied, but then fled the scene at high speeds after the officer began walking toward Zavala’s car, the release said.
CHP followed the vehicle in a high-speed chase into SLO County, reaching speeds of 125 mph, the agency said.
Zavala was driving recklessly, running stop signs and passing unsafely, while cruising at high speeds, the CHP said.
He also allegedly threw multiple items out of his car, including what trailing officers initially thought was a gun, according to emergency radio traffic. They were able to locate that item, however, and said on the radio that it was a cellphone.
The driver reversed directions multiple times on the highway north of Paso Robles, but eventually, Templeton CHP officers where able to deploy spike strips near San Marcos Road, deflating the vehicle’s tires, the release said.
After that, Zavala continued driving on southbound Highway 101 at slow speeds, until officers intervened, “rendering the Honda inoperable,” the release said. The pursuit ended near Exline Road.
According to the CHP, the vehicle Zavala was driving had been reported stolen out of Hayward.
Zavala was arrested and booked into the Monterey County Jail on charges of felony evasion and driving a stolen vehicle, the CHP said.
This story was originally published February 4, 2026 at 11:39 AM.
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