A San Benito County Sheriff’s deputy was flown to Stanford
Medical Center with cuts and bruises after rolling his patrol car
multiple times and crashing into a power pole during a high speed
chase Sunday evening, according to police.
San Juan Bautista – A San Benito County Sheriff’s deputy was flown to Stanford Medical Center with cuts and bruises after rolling his patrol car multiple times and crashing into a power pole during a high speed chase Sunday evening, according to police.
Deputy Matt Soto suffered a concussion and cuts and bruises to his head, hands and back but was released from the hospital Monday evening, said Sheriff Curtis Hill. The Seaside resident whom Soto was chasing when he crashed, 25-year old Keoni Rickard, was uninjured but arrested for felony evading a police officer causing serious bodily injury or death, among other drug-related charges.
“He’s awfully sore, but he’s very, very lucky,” Hill said.
Soto was on radar patrol Sunday around 5:30pm on Highway 156 near San Juan Bautista when he saw Rickard’s 1999 Geo Tracker speeding and darting in and out of lanes, Hill said. After Soto turned on his lights, Rickard turned onto The Alameda and pulled over near Lang Street, Hill said. Rickard is on probation out of Monterey County for misdemeanor assault, according to the Monterey County Sheriff’s Department.
While Soto was walking up to the car to issue him a ticket, Rickard took off and a chase ensued, Hill said.
Driving between 85 to 90 mph in pursuit of Rickard, Soto somehow lost control of his patrol car, hit a drainage ditch and began rolling over on Highway 156 near Bixby Road, according to the California Highway Patrol. Soto hit a San Felipe Water Blue Valve water pipe, which shot water about 100 feet into the air, and continued rolling until he took out a power pole. The force of the collision broke the utility pole, causing wires to fall on the water valve, according to the CHP.
Soto’s vehicle came to rest in an agricultural field, and despite the live wires, witnesses who saw the accident helped Soto out of the wreckage, according to the CHP. No one else was injured.
Before crashing, Soto, who has been with the department for nearly three years, notified other officers that he was involved in a high speed chase. Officers and emergency personnel arrived soon after the crash to assist him, Hill said.
Although Rickard eluded Soto, a phone call from an observant resident on San Juan/Hollister Road led police to the man before he could escape for good, Hill said.
After the deputy’s accident, Rickard drove down a frontage road, behind some businesses on San Juan/Hollister Road, abandoned his car and ran into the river, Hill said.
The suspicious activity prompted a resident to call 911, and with the help of Hollister Police officers, Rickard was finally found hiding in the San Benito River minutes after the accident, Hill said.
Rickard was booked into the San Benito County Jail for evading an officer with serious bodily injury, possession of a controlled substance and violation of parole, felonies, along with resisting arrest and possession of drug paraphernalia, misdemeanors, according to the jail. Rickard is being held without bail.
Although Soto’s patrol car, which costs nearly $37,000, was totaled, the deputy was wearing his seat belt and was fortunate the car took the brunt of the damage, Hill said. The deputy will be off work for a short time, and Hill didn’t know when he might be back on the job, he said.
“That’s up to him and his doctors,” Hill said. “He’s just lucky to be alive.”
Erin Musgrave covers public safety for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or [email protected]
