WATSONVILLE — A driver who managed to elude police after leading them on a high-speed chase on Highway 1 Friday night died in a crash minutes later.
According to Watsonville Police, at 10 p.m. officer Javier Ayala attempted to stop a vehicle traveling at a high speed westbound on West Beach Street near Ohlone Parkway.
Ayala caught up to the vehicle stopped at a red light on West Beach Street at Lee Road. The 1993 Lexus sedan was straddling the east and westbound lanes of West Beach Street, beyond the limit line, and inside the intersection, police said.
When the left turn signal turned green, the Lexus turned left onto Lee Road toward Riverside Drive. The Lexus slowed while traveling on southbound Lee Road, then sped off and quickly turned onto the southbound onramp of Highway 1.
The driver of the Lexus accelerated quickly and drove erratically while many objects were thrown from the vehicle onto the highway; those items included a handgun and a short barreled assault rifle, police said.
As speeds exceeded 100 mph, Ayala terminated the pursuit, due to public safety concerns, at Salinas Road, police said. The suspect vehicle was last seen southbound on Highway 1.
According to the California Highway Patrol, the Lexus caught up to a pickup truck, and abruptly turned left to avoid colliding with it. The Lexus rolled and ejected the driver, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
Officers recovered two firearms and ammunition on Highway 1.
