An 18-year-old Modesto man was arrested by Ceres Police on serious charges including evading police after a Friday evening pursuit of a stolen vehicle.

Officer Matthew Johnson was on patrol at 9:24 p.m., riding behind a green-colored 1994 Honda Accord. Because the car is one commonly stolen, the officer ran the license plate through the DMV database and learned that the license plate belonged to a 2014 Chevrolet. Officer Johnson suspected the car was stolen because of the wrong plate.

When Officer Johnson attempted to pull over the driver  at Whitmore Avenue and Highway 99, the driver, Angel Costumbre, 18, of Modesto, sped off onto northbound Highway 99, passing vehicles on the right shoulder. Other Ceres officers joined the pursuit which led to Hatch Road, Bystrum Avenue and throughout city streets back to Hatch Road.

Costumbre led the officers over the Hatch Road freeway overpass, and onto southbound Highway 99. The chase reached over 80 mph as the driver began passing vehicles on the right shoulder. He lost control and collided with the center median of the freeway north of Whitmore Avenue. 

Costumbre and his 17-year-old female passenger were taken into custody and both taken to the hospital for treatment.

The Honda had been stolen earlier in the day in Modesto.

Both Costumbre and his passenger face charges of evading a police officer with a vehicle, auto theft and possession of stolen property. Costumbre had an outstanding Modesto Police Department warrant for his arrest for stealing another vehicle and possession of stolen property.