Juvenile Flees CHP in 100 Mile-Per-Hour Chase

A CHP chase ended with a 2003 Nissan Altima somersaulting across the northbound lanes of Highway 101 and exploding in flames at about 7:55 this morning. After having clocked the Altima at 107 miles per hour, a CHP officer chased the offending vehicle, which slowed to 80 miles per hour before accelerating past 100 miles per hour. The Nissan failed to negotiate the right curve at Gaviota and rolled repeatedly, but the officer managed to pull the driver out and arrest him before flames engulfed the car. A resulting brush fire had to be put out from firefighters. The Nissan driver, a 15-year-old male juvenile wanted in connection with unspecified crimes being investigated by the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Department, sustained only a bruised elbow as a result of the crash. He is being charged with driving under the influence of drugs, vehicular theft and felony evasion.