Wild Chase Of ‘Suspicious’ Car Leads To I-680 Crash In Danville

DANVILLE, CA — Two suspects were arrested following a pursuit that ended in a crash on I-680 in Danville Thursday afternoon, police officials said. Danville Police Chief Allen Shields said an alert citizen called to report a suspicious car at the Chevron station on Hartz Avenue just after noon. When officers arrived, they tried to stop the Chrysler 300. The driver allegedly sped through Danville reaching speeds of up to 90 mph.

Shields said officers canceled the pursuit because of the dangerous speeds. Minutes later, a deputy with the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s spotted the suspect’s car in near I-680. A Danville officer initiated another pursuit. Refusing to stop, the driver continued southbound on I-680, tried to pass in the emergency lane and hit a Cadillac.

Once the suspect’s car became disabled, Shields said the driver jumped out and tried to flee. He made an "abrupt maneuver" and was knocked down by a patrol car. Shields said the patrol car was driving about 5 mph when it made contact with the suspect, who got up and jumped over the center divide in an attempt to get away.

Police arrested the suspect, identified as Oakland resident Alonzo Choyce, 31, for a probation violation and other charges that included suspicion of felony hit-and-run, evading drug charges and driving on a suspended license.

The passenger, identified as Castro Valley resident Bryan Clark, was arrested on a probation violation, suspicion of resisting arrest and possession of a controlled substance. Shields said Clark and the Choyce, both uninjured, were taken to John Muir Hospital.

The California Highway Patrol issued a Sig-alert just after 1 p.m. Traffic slowed to a crawl for several hours. All lanes on the busy highway were reopened several hours later.

Photo courtesy Renee Schiavone/ Patch