Driver Crashes, Dies In High-Speed Sonoma County Pursuit: CHP

HEALDSBURG, CA — A driver died Sunday in a fiery crash while leading the California Highway Patrol on a high-speed pursuit near Healdsburg, a spokesperson for the CHP said.

The chase started at 9:55 a.m. Sunday when a Santa Rosa Area CHP officer was on routine patrol on U.S. Highway 101 northbound near Healdsburg and saw a Mercedes sedan going over 100 mph on the southbound side of the freeway, CHP Officer David deRutte said.

"The officer made a U-turn and attempted to initiate an enforcement stop," deRutte said. "The driver failed to stop, and a pursuit ensued."

The officer pursued the Mercedes as it exited onto Dry Creek Road and headed west into a rural area of Sonoma County. The officer briefly lost sight of the Mercedes, then rounded a corner and saw that it had gone off the roadway and crashed into a tree, deRutte said.

"The officer immediately called for medical and fire personnel to respond and attempted to remove the unconscious driver from the vehicle before a fast-spreading fire fully engulfed the vehicle," deRutte said.

Personnel with the Healdsburg Fire Department and Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene near Westside Road and put out the fire.

The driver died from injuries suffered in the crash, the CHP said.

Authorities have not disclosed the driver's name.

The CHP Golden Gate Division Multi-Disciplinary Accident Investigation Team was called in to help with the investigation.