CHP: Mom with Child in Car Arrested for DUI After High Speed Chase

By Bay City News Service:

The California Highway Patrol arrested a Pacifica woman Sunday evening on suspicion of DUI and child endangerment after she fled officers at 90 mph on U.S. Highway 101 in Marin County, a CHP officer said.

Ana Soledad Lopez, 32, was driving on southbound Highway 101 near the Marinwood Avenue off-ramp around 5:30 p.m., CHP Officer Andrew Barclay said.

An officer tracking the speed of vehicles pursued Lopez’s SUV as it reached 90 mph, made erratic lane changes, cut off vehicles and caused other vehicles to make evasive maneuvers to avoid collisions, Barclay said.

Lopez pulled to the side of the highway near the San Pedro Road exit in San Rafael, but sped away as a CHP officer approached her vehicle, Barclay said.

Other CHP officers joined the pursuit and Lopez pulled off the road near the Lincoln Avenue off-ramp, according to Barclay.

Officers found Lopez’s 6-year-old daughter with a blanket pulled up to her eyes in the right rear seat of the SUV, Barclay said. The girl was taken to the CHP office in Corte Madera where her father took custody of her, Barclay said.

Lopez was arrested and booked in Marin County Jail on suspicion of felony child endangerment, failing to comply with a peace officer’s order, DUI, DUI with blood-alcohol content above 0.08 percent and enhancements of DUI with a minor passenger under age 14 and DUI with a blood-alcohol content of 0.15 percent or greater, Barclay said.