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A mid-morning car chase involving deputies from the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office spilled out on to Interstate 280 north of the Edgewood Road exit, where officers from the California Highway Patrol took over. The CHP corralled a light blue Honda Accord occupied by a male and a female and said to be stolen out of San Jose, said Deputy Rebecca Rosenblatt of the Sheriff’s Office.
The chase took shape around 9:35 this morning when a deputy in a squad car, acting on a report of a “reckless driver” from Santa Cruz authorities, identified the vehicle traveling on Highway 1 through Davenport, Ms. Rosenblatt said. A chase ensued on Highway 84, a narrow, twisting mountainous two-lane road that crosses over the Santa Cruz Mountains.
In emails to the Almanac, Woodside residents reported hearing a helicopter overhead and seeing several squad cars racing down Mountain Home Road at about 10:30 a.m.
Although there are likely significant risks to life and limb inherent to a high-speed escape/pursuit on Highway 84, “unfortunately, suspects don’t always take that into consideration,” Ms. Rosenblatt said.
By Dave Boyce
By Dave Boyce
By Dave Boyce
I witnessed this event from the gas station on Woodside Road, near the Town. After hearing the sirens, I watched as 6 to 8 police cars went by, I did not see the suspect car. A helicopter then hovered and went towards 280. After a minute or less, another 8 cars went towards 280, all coming from 84. Overall, there were what looked like 8 CHP and 8 San Mateo County cars all driving down Woodside Road, from 84 towards 280, speeding. One car was without identification, but inside I could see 4 police officers with weapons on them, I’m assuming from the overall like suspenders on their upper bodies.
When I continued on 84, I saw 2 San Mateo County officer cars that had collided in what appeared to be a rear end collision with one another. They were on the side of the road. This could indicate that the entire situation was a drill, since they would not have hit each other while in pursuit. Instead I’m guessing they were lined up and one car jumped the gun by starting too early.
Further down on 84 there was a film crew filming a commercial for the Forest Protection Service.
A bit strange that such a heavy presence of police/military force would be needed for one stolen car.
Do others feel that this might be overdone for one stolen vehicle?
Given the nature of the road, it sure seems like overkill to me. We’re pretty lucky no one was hurt, or worse.
17 speeding cars and the expense of 2 crashed patrol cars-yeah sounds like over kill to me.
Maybe just the helocopter from now on
really dangerous