Hollister
– The busiest and most dangerous travel weekend of the year was
a relatively quiet one in San Benito County.
Hollister – The busiest and most dangerous travel weekend of the year was a relatively quiet one in San Benito County.
However, a Hollister man was arrested early Sunday morning after a high-speed chase that began in San Benito County and extended into Santa Clara and Merced counties.
“They think they’re smart but usually they get caught,” CHP Officer Chris Gallego said. “They’ll get caught eventually.”
Sean Michael Daudet, 21, of Hollister, was arrested near Pacheco Pass on Highway 152 following a 10-mile chase during which speeds exceeded 90 mph, CHP Officer Chris Gallego said.
Deputies initially attempted to stop Daudet on Chappell Road near Kirkpatrick Drive, Gallego said. Daudet fled, Gallego said, hitting 70 mph on streets within the city limits. The CHP joined the chase near Union Road and Southside Road.
The pursuit continued through residential streets and turned eastbound on Highway 156 at Fourth Street, Gallego said. Daudet allegedly exceeded speeds of 90 mph as he crossed into Santa Clara County, merged onto eastbound Highway 152 and led officers into Merced County, Gallego said.
Daudet allegedly crossed the highway’s 100-foot dirt divide, made a U-turn and headed westbound on Highway 152, Gallego said. Officers deployed several spike strips, bringing the pursuit to a stop near El Toro Road in the highway’s center divide, Gallego said.
The CHP arrested Daudet on suspicion of recklessly evading police officers, a felony, driving under the influence, a misdemeanor, and possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor, Gallego said.
Otherwise the Hollister-Gilroy area office of the CHP was less active than normal during the CHP’s maximum enforcement period, Officer Brad Voyles said. The maximum enforcement period was in place from 6 pm Wednesday until Sunday at midnight, Voyles said.
There were no fatalities during the maximum enforcement period in the Hollister-Gilroy area.
In the Hollister-Gilroy area the CHP responded to 21 accidents, down significantly from previous years, Voyles said.
“Typically on this weekend over the last five years we take anywhere from 35 to 40,” Voyles said.
The CHP responded to three accidents in San Benito County, one of which involved an injury, Voyles said. None of the accidents involved a driver under the influence, Voyles said. The CHP arrested two men for driving under the influence in San Benito County, Gallego said.
The Hollister Police Department responded to four traffic accidents, made two arrests for driving under the influence and issued eight traffic citations, said Officer Rosie Betanio, a police department spokeswoman.
Michael Van Cassell covers public safety for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or
mv*********@fr***********.com
.
