Crime & Safety
Driver Accused Of Dragging CHP Officer Faces Judge
She is accused of going 35-40 mph as the officer hung on to the side of her vehicle.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA — A driver accused of speeding away from a traffic stop Friday and colliding with two other vehicles on Interstate Highway 80 in San Francisco -- all while a California Highway Patrol officer clung to the side of her Jeep -- has been charged with a slew of felonies.
CHP officers arrested Nicole Wade, 33, of Pittsburg immediately after the incident, which occurred on the highway's eastbound lanes east of Fourth Street and near the Bay Bridge around 5 p.m.
Wade has been charged with 20 counts, which include attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon other than a firearm, false imprisonment and assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer. She's also being charged with resisting an officer, driving while under the influence, child endangerment and evading an officer, according to court documents.
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Wade was arraigned Wednesday in San Francisco Superior Court. She's expected to appear in court again on Friday. According to the CHP, the event unfolded when CHP Officer K. Spears pulled over a red Jeep, which had three adults and a child inside. Wade allegedly gave Spears a driver's license not issued to her and Spears
asked for additional identification, according to the CHP.
When Wade walked back to her car, Spears followed her. Wade then got into the driver's seat of the Jeep to try to get away as Spears tried to stop her, CHP officials said.
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Driving on the right shoulder, Wade allegedly sped away with Spears hanging outside the driver's side door. Reaching speeds of 35 to 40 mph, Wade sideswiped a white Honda Civic and then rear-ended another vehicle,
according to CHP officials.
Spears was able to force the steering wheel to the right and the right front wheel hit the right-side concrete bridge rail, breaking the Jeep's front axle, disabling the vehicle and causing it to come to a stop, CHP officials said.
Spears was taken to Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital with injuries not considered to be life-threatening. He was treated and released. After Wade was arrested, the adult passengers in the car were
released and the child was entrusted to Child Protective Services, according to the CHP.
Wade was found to have three outstanding warrants out of Contra Costa County, CHP officials said.
Wade remains in police custody and is being held without bail, according to jail records.
— Bay City News; Image via CHP
