COARSEGOLD — Just before 2:30 p.m. this afternoon, reports came in of a pursuit and crash on Highway 41 in the Coarsegold area.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, a deputy was stopped at the red light northbound on Highway 41 at Road 417. He was the first car at the light.
A white Dodge Ram was westbound on Road 417 at a high rate of speed, and turned southbound onto 41, nearly hitting the deputy head-on.
The driver, Chanane Reid, 22, of Coarsegold, then over-corrected and veered across the roadway, up the embankment, and into the parking lot at the gas station on the southwest corner.
Deputy Ian Roth turned on his emergency lights and followed the suspect who appeared to be preparing to stop, but then accelerated away at a high rate of speed, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Rei
d then ran the truck up the embankment south of the gas station, across the highway, and onto the eastbound shoulder, where he went up that embankment and flipped over. The truck came to rest on the passenger side as beer cans came flying out of the bed of the truck.
Reid was taken to a Valley hospital for evaluation and placed under arrest for felony DUI and felony evading. He is currently being held in Madera County Jail on a $50,000 bond.
One of his passengers, Madison Parker, 19, from Oakhurst, had a no-bail warrant for DUI, according to the Sheriff’s Office, and was also taken into custody.
There was at least one other female passenger in the vehicle at the time of the crash, according to CHP
Sheriff’s deputies and CHP responded to the scene along with Cal Fire Engine 4295 and Madera County Fire Engine 8.
Traffic was backed up for several miles as the arrests were made and the scene was cleared.
