MADERA COUNTY — A 22-year-old woman is behind bars after a 50-mile, high-speed chase along Highway 41 in the early morning hours.
Shortly after midnight this morning, a Fresno County Sheriff’s deputy was patrolling the area of Highway 168 and Ashlan Ave. when he saw what appeared to be a drug deal going down.
The suspect’s car, a black Honda, also matched the description of a vehicle which had been reported stolen.
When the Honda got onto the road, the deputy attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but the driver refused to yield.
Kiyona Beecher, 22, of Auberry, took off north on Highway 41, driving in at speeds up to 85 mph, according to the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office.
The pursuit was joined by Oakhurst Area CHP, as CHP helicopter H40 followed overhead.
Officers on the ground set up a spike strip near Yosemite Springs Parkway, which the suspect ran over, flattening her tires. However, the driver kept going, continuing north on Highway 41.
Beecher turned off Highway 41 north of Oakhurst, and headed toward Bass Lake. She finally went off the embankment on Road 274 near Fawn Point at about 1:30 a.m.
Deputies and officers converged on the car and arrested Beecher, who reportedly suffered significant injuries in the crash. Inside the car they found two pounds of marijuana.
Beecher was transported to a Valley hospital for treatment, and has since been electronically booked into jail on charges of drug possession and evading police.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the car showed signs that it had been stolen, but deputies are still working to confirm if that is in fact the case.
