Freeway Chase Ends In Temecula With Spike Strip, PIT Maneuver

TEMECULA, CA — A Whittier man is in custody Tuesday afternoon after leading law enforcement on a chase into the Temecula Valley, the CHP reports. The man had been fleeing authorities from San Bernardino County before finally being stopped in his tracks by the Temecula Area CHP, according to the agency.

The chase entered the region around 2:54 p.m., according to CHP Officer Mike Lassig.

Details related to the case are limited at this time, but 28-year-old Jesse Keith was driving a stolen Hyundai SUV when authorities from the Ontario Police Department and San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department began pursuing him, Lassig said.

He was driving at speeds up to 105 mph, while weaving in and out of traffic and using righthand shoulder to pass other vehicles, according to Lassig.

"The pursuit came into the Temecula area from San Bernardino," he told Patch. "CHP Temecula took it over at Clinton Keith Road."

By the time the driver got to the region, authorities were ready for him with a Pursuit Intervention Technique to ultimately end the chase on the southbound side of Interstate 15, just north of Winchester Road.

"We spiked his tires at the 215, flattening two of his tires and the officers in pursuit conducted two separate PIT maneuvers to disable the driver's vehicle in the center divider," Lassig said.

Keith surrendered at that point and was taken into custody without further hassle, according to Lassig. The CHP handed the man over to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.

No injuries were reported.

The southbound lanes of I-15 were briefly completely shut down as a result of the chase and man's arrest, leading to some traffic delays in the area.