CHP
A stolen flatbed tow truck, a vehicle chase through two counties, a successfully-deployed spike strip and flames made for a chaotic morning Thursday for the California Highway Patrol.
According to CHP spokesman Jason Tyhurst, an officer spotted the tow truck, reported stolen out of san Francisco, just after 9:30 a.m. on eastbound Interstate 80 at San Pablo Dam Road in Contra Costa County.
A chase began, with the driver fleeing into Solano County.
As the vehicle neared Vacaville, Vacaville police Lt. Frank Piro advised, officers were asked to deploy a spike strip in an attempt to stop the vehicle.
Officers deployed the device on the freeway near Davis Street, Piro said, and it was successful, deflating several of the tow truck’s tires. But the motorist kept going, even as the vehicle began heavily smoking as it approached Leisure Town Road. Soon, flames erupted from the still-moving truck.
The chase ended on I-80 east, east of Midway Road in Vacaville, Tyhurst added. The driver was subsequently arrested but his name and charges were unavailable at press time.
Originally published at Kim Fu