A Modesto teenager who was caught drag racing on a Ceres street early Sunday morning led an officer on a high-speed chase that ended in a crash miles out in the country.
Officer Ross Bays was on patrol at 12:14 a.m. when he stumbled upon several cars that appeared to be racing in the area of Service and Morgan roads. When Bays turned on his red lights, drivers scattered in all directions. Bays went after a Honda and attempted a traffic stop but the driver, Jonathan Rivera, 18, of Modesto, accelerated eastbound on Service Road with Bays in pursuit. The chase reached speeds of up to 100 mph as it moved to Santa Fe Avenue.
Rivera lost control of his car, causing some damage but still able to move east on Service Road. Bays performed a Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT) maneuver on the Honda to end the pursuit.
Rivera was arrested and charged with felony evading of a police office and exhibition of speed.
The other drivers got away.