A multi-county vehicle pursuit that blocked traffic on Interstate 280 for more than an hour Tuesday (March 17) ended in Los Altos Hills when the driver’s SUV overturned on the freeway, according to California Highway Patrol reports.
No injuries were reported during the incident, but suspect Ramon Bernal of Davis was transported to Stanford Medical Center as a precautionary procedure. The 24-year-old was later booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail on charges of felony evasion of a peace officer and driving under the influence of drugs, according to CHP Officer Ross Lee.
The chase began near Vacaville at approximately 2 p.m. when a CHP officer observed Bernal’s gold Nissan Pathfinder speeding westbound on Interstate 80, near Interstate 505. The officer attempted a traffic stop, according to CHP reports, but Bernal ¬ – the sole occupant of the vehicle – failed to yield. He continued driving at speeds between 80 and 95 mph onto Interstate 680 southbound, where a spike strip deflated the SUV’s tires, and then onto 280 northbound.
By the time Bernal reached 280 near Magdalena Avenue, the SUV’s tires had disintegrated to the point that the front of the vehicle came in contact with the roadway, according to CHP reports. He drove the SUV onto the center median, struck a dirt embankment and lost control. The vehicle flipped once before coming to a rest upright, and Bernal was able to exit the SUV on his own. CHP officers took him into custody without incident.
Northbound 280 traffic flow returned to normal levels by 5 p.m. Tuesday.
