Man Arrested in Connection with Wrong-Way Pursuit 10 Days Earlier

A man who fled after driving the wrong way on highways in a pursuit earlier this month from Concord to Berkeley was arrested early this morning, a California Highway Patrol officer said. Jerome Wingert was arrested at about 3:10 a.m. at a hotel in Berkeley in connection with the pursuit that started late on the night of May 17, CHP Officer Clayton Nett said.

More details about the arrest were expected to be released at a news conference later today, Nett said.

CHP officers had been alerted at about 11:30 p.m. on May 17 about a chase called off by another agency involving a stolen Honda Accord going the wrong way on state Highway 4. The Honda eventually went south on state Highway 242 in Concord, then onto city streets and Highway 4 west in the eastbound lanes to Interstate Highway 80, where it continued west in the eastbound lanes before exiting on University Avenue in Berkeley, CHP officials said.

A CHP helicopter followed the vehicle from the air until it began traveling on the right side of the street again near Oxford Street and University Avenue, according to the CHP. At one point during the pursuit, someone claiming to be the driver of the Honda called CHP dispatchers and told them to call off the helicopter.

The pursuit ended when the Honda collided with a GMC Envoy near Hearst Avenue and California Street. The driver fled and could not immediately be found. The driver of the GMC suffered minor injuries and was taken to a hospital, according to the CHP.

By Bay City News

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