Several occupants of a car being chased by Ceres police were injured on Saturday evening, Dec. 3 when the driver failed to negotiate a curve at the top of the Keyes Road overpass.

At 7:12 p.m. Officer Mike Vierra saw a vehicle that did not stop at the limit line at an intersection of Hosmer Avenue and Ninth Street. Vierra attempted to make a traffic stop however the driver accelerated and a pursuit was initiated. The vehicle, which contained four people in the back seat, made its way onto southbound lanes of Highway 99 and exited at the Keyes Road exit.

The driver, Braxton Bentley, 18, of Winton, attempted to turn left at the top of the Keyes Road overpass but lost control and drove straight into the railing on the south side. Several occupants exited the car and began fleeing. Five suspects were located and Bentley was arrested. Several of the occupants had minor injuries and were transported to area hospitals for treatment.

Bentley said he ran from the police because he was scared. He was transported to jail and was booked for recklessly fleeing or evading the police and for fleeing the scene of an accident with injuries.