A high-speed pursuit of a black Ford Mustang tore through Guadalupe County on Monday evening before ending in a crash at a Seguin intersection, leaving one motorist hurt and a San Antonio man staring down felony charges. Deputies say the Mustang topped 100 mph during the chase through downtown Seguin before slamming into another car. The driver was arrested nearby, and investigators say the case is still very much active.
How the chase unfolded
As reported by News4SanAntonio, deputies were called to assist the San Antonio Police Department on Interstate 10 eastbound near the 591 mile marker around 6:25 p.m. Authorities say the driver, identified as 41-year-old John Guajardo of San Antonio, refused to stop and pushed the Mustang past 100 mph.
The pursuit rolled off the interstate onto Farm-to-Market Road 725 southbound and continued through multiple intersections as law enforcement followed. It came to a violent halt when the Mustang collided with another vehicle at the intersection of North Austin Street and West Krezdorn Street in downtown Seguin.
Arrest, injuries and response
Guadalupe County deputies took Guajardo into custody without incident in the 800 block of North Austin Street, according to the Guadalupe County Sheriff's Office. A passenger in the Mustang, 39-year-old Frances Lerma of San Antonio, suffered minor injuries.
The driver of the other vehicle, a 42-year-old Seguin man, complained of neck and back pain and was taken to a local hospital for evaluation. The sheriff’s office publicly thanked the San Antonio Police Department, Seguin Police Department and Schertz Police Department for coordinating during the pursuit and crash response.
Charges and legal context
Guajardo was charged with evading arrest or detention with a vehicle and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, News4SanAntonio reports.
Under Texas law, evading arrest while using a vehicle can be prosecuted as a state-jail or third-degree felony depending on circumstances and prior convictions under Texas Penal Code §38.04, according to Justia. Aggravated assault involving a deadly weapon is defined under Texas Penal Code §22.02, as outlined by Justia. Those statutes set out the elements and classifications prosecutors will weigh as the case moves forward.
What’s next
The Guadalupe County Sheriff's Office says the investigation is active and that more information will be released as detectives continue their work. Anyone with information about the pursuit or the crash is asked to contact Guadalupe County Crime Stoppers or reach out to the sheriff's office through its website.
