May 30--A 32-year-old man believed to be high on methamphetamine led a fast and furious police chase across East San Jose, topping 100 mph on city and residential streets and ramming a patrol car before deputies caught him, the Santa Clara Sheriff's Office said.
Hillside residents at the east end of Aborn Road were jarred awake by the early Tuesday crash and frantic suburban foot chase for Francisco Vega, who was arrested on suspicion of a battery of crimes on top of two existing arrest warrants.
Vega first caught the attention of authorities about 1:20 a.m. when a patrol deputy saw his dark-colored BMW speed through the intersection of Alum Rock Avenue and North White Road at more than 80 mph, said Sheriff's Sgt. Jose Cardoza.
The deputy tried to stop the car but it kept going, heading southbound on White and blowing through several red lights as the deputy, his car's lights and siren blaring, was joined by another patrol car, Cardoza said.
Vega tore down South White Road at speeds between 60 and 100 mph, turned east on Aborn Road and after about two miles was close to running out of road near Lazy Lane. That's where he rammed into the right-front side of one of the patrol cars, followed by Vega ditching the car in a private driveway, Cardoza said.
Deputies chased Vega on foot, shouting out orders to stop as he jumped fences along the hillside, Cardoza said. They found him hiding next to a shed on Lazy Lane, and after he refused several orders to surrender the deputies restrained and arrested him.
The two deputies suffered minor injuries, one from the collision and the other during the foot chase, and were treated and released at the scene, Cardoza said.
Vega was booked into County Jail on suspicion of evading a police officer, resisting arrest, being under the influence of methamphetamine, possessing the drug, and possessing a stolen credit card. He was also wanted on warrants for carjacking and theft.
Contact Robert Salonga at 408-920-5002. Follow him at Twitter.com/robertsalonga.
Copyright 2012 - San Jose Mercury News, Calif.
