Pursuit From Santa Rosa To Novato Ends In Fiery Crash, Arrest

SONOMA and MARIN COUNTIES, CA — Santa Rosa police arrested a man on suspicion of driving under the influence and possession of methamphetamine after a vehicle pursuit that ended in Novato early this morning. Jose Rubio-Rivas, 33, was arrested after a pursuit that started when two Santa Rosa police officers riding in a marked car saw a white minivan driving erratically in the area of Sebastopol Road and Doubles Drive in west Santa Rosa around 2:30 a.m. Thursday, Sgt. Mike Clark said.

The minivan driver failed to stop at Sebastopol and South Wright roads and drove west on state Highway 12 into Sebastopol, Clark said.

The driver ran several red lights and drove at 80 mph on southbound state Highway 116, then onto Stony Point Road and into Petaluma, Clark said.

The California Highway Patrol was notified when the minivan drove onto southbound U.S. Highway 101 into Marin County. The CHP deployed a spike strip that flattened two of the minivan's tires.

The driver exited the highway at South Novato Boulevard into Novato, where Novato police deployed a spike strip that flattened the minivan's two other tires, Clark said.

The minivan caught fire from sparks coming off of the vehicle's rims, and the body of the driver, later identified as Rubio-Rivas, struck a lane divider when he tried to jump out of the burning minivan that was still traveling at about 30 mph for approximately another 60 yards, Clark said.

Santa Rosa police arrested Rubio-Rivas, a Santa Rosa resident, on suspicion of felony evading, violating probation, DUI, possession of methamphetamine and outstanding warrants.

He was taken to a Marin County hospital for treatment of his injuries, Clark said.

By Bay City News Service

Photos via Santa Rosa Police Department