Chaos briefly erupted in a Santa Rosa neighborhood on Thursday night when a collision involving a blue Saturn and a white panel van led to a short pursuit by Santa Rosa Police. According to a social media post from the Santa Rosa Police, the incident was reported around 9:10 p.m. near Hahman Drive and Magowan Drive, and witnesses quickly informed the dispatch that the blue Saturn involved in the collision was attempting to flee the scene.
Santa Rosa Police Officers were dispatched to the location, and an Accident Investigator, en route to the accident, managed to locate the evading vehicle. Despite attempts to pull over the Saturn, the driver refused to yield promptly, causing a brief chase. Due to major damage from the original collision, the Saturn could not sustain a prolonged getaway and was promptly stopped. "The pursuit was brief due to the major damage sustained to the Saturn during the original collision, rendering it mostly inoperable," said the Santa Rosa Police in their statement.
The driver, identified as John Patrick Thorpe, a 43-year-old Santa Rosa resident, surrendered to the police without further incident. Upon his detention, officers noted apparent signs of intoxication. A DUI investigation ensued, and Thorpe was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and reckless evading. The charges against Thorpe are 23152(a) VC and 2800.2 VC, respectively.
Thorpe reportedly suffered minor injuries in the ordeal and was later booked into the Sonoma County Jail.
