Earlier today, a high-speed chase in Petaluma, California, concluded with the arrest of 34-year-old Vacaville resident, William Dye. Dye was detained after reportedly driving erratically and fleeing from a Petaluma Police officer who had placed him under suspicion of being intoxicated.
According to the Petaluma Police Department, the incident began around 12:09 a.m. when an officer observed Dye driving his silver Hyundai Elantra at high speeds on Lakeville Street and swerving into the oncoming lanes of traffic for several hundred feet. When the officer attempted to pull Dye over at the intersection of Lakeville Street and East D Street, Dye accelerated and fled, running multiple red traffic signals in the process.
During the pursuit, the Petaluma Police officer requested assistance from the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office, believing that Dye might be intoxicated due to his erratic driving. Deputies joined the chase, which continued out of Petaluma on Western Avenue and eventually toward the town of Bodega. Dye lost control of his vehicle while navigating a turn on Highway 1 and collided with a dirt embankment. The collision caused extensive damage to the driver's side front tire and wheel of the vehicle, making further flight impossible.
Dye continued driving for a short distance after the crash before pulling over to the side of the road and surrendering to the authorities without further incident. Fortunately, no one was injured during the pursuit.
William Dye was subsequently booked at the Sonoma County Main Adult Detention Facility on charges of felony evading.
