Two of four occupants were arrested when the stolen car they were riding in crashed during a police pursuit on Friday evening, Oct. 9.

A Ceres officer was cruising through the parking lot in front of Big 5 Sporting Goods on Hatch Road when he spotted a red 1997 Honda Civic reported stolen out of Modesto. Four occupants were inside the car, which made a U-turn and disappeared briefly. Moments later a second officer spotted the car as it was traveling westbound on Whitmore Avenue atop the Highway 99 overpass. The officer activated his lights but the driver accelerated up to 80 mph to dodge the officer. The pursuit went onto Crowslanding Road where it sideswiped a 2008 Ford Focus driven by a 45-year-old Modesto woman. The woman was shaken but not hurt.

The chase continued westbound on Whitmore Avenue and drove south into an almond orchard in the Ustick Road area. The chase through the orchard caused a dust storm that made it hard to see and the suspects crashed into a cement irrigation box and took off running.

A perimeter was set up with the help of Sheriff's deputies and the California Highway Patrol. Arrested were the 17-year-old driver who was charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of stolen property, resisting arrest and felony evading a peace officer. A 15-year-old male passenger was charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of stolen property and resisting arrest.