100-MPH Sonoma County Police Chase Ends When Car Catches Fire

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — A high-speed pursuit early Tuesday in Sonoma County came to end an when the suspects' car caught fire on U.S. Highway 101 in Cotati, the Santa Rosa Police Department said.

The chase started around 2:45 a.m. when an officer saw the driver of a silver Infiniti sedan run a red light at the intersection of Dutton Avenue and West 3rd Street in Santa Rosa, police said.

As the Infiniti driver, later identified as Skyler Rasmussen, 26, of Santa Rosa, sped northbound on Dutton then turned around and took the onramp to eastbound state Highway 12, the officer tried to stop him.

Rasmussen did not stop; instead, he drove 80 mph eastbound on SR-12, police said. The Infiniti briefly turned onto northbound Farmers Lane, then got back onto westbound SR-12 where it accelerated to speeds over 90 mph — making it to the interchange for southbound U.S. Highway 101, police said.

As Rasmussen continued southbound on the 101 at speeds over 100 mph, police said, his car engine caught fire near the state Highway 116 offramp in Cotati and came to a stop on the southbound shoulder.

Officers took Rasmussen and his female passenger, 32-year-old Brittany Hamilton of Santa Rosa, into custody and moved them to safety.

California Highway Patrol officers helped with a temporary freeway shutdown while firefighters extinguished the car fire.

No injuries were reported and police do not believe alcohol or drugs were factors in the pursuit.

Rasmussen was arrested on suspicion of felony evading and for felony parole and probation violation, and Hamilton was arrested for a total of seven misdemeanor warrants, police said.