A Marin County driver tore across the Golden Gate Bridge at freeway-racer speeds, then ditched a car riddled with fresh bullet holes in San Francisco before deputies tracked him down back home in Novato, authorities said. The vehicle, later found to have about 14 new bullet strikes, was seen hitting roughly 100 mph on U.S. 101 near the Richardson Bay Bridge before deputies backed off the chase for safety. Detectives later arrested 26-year-old Martin Zuniga Jr. in downtown Novato, officials said.
According to KRON4, a Marin County sheriff’s deputy first spotted the damaged vehicle in Marin and tried to follow it as it headed toward the Golden Gate. The deputy estimated the car was pushing 100 mph on Highway 101 near the Richardson Bay Bridge and eventually ended the pursuit when the speeds became too dangerous. The car later turned up abandoned on San Francisco streets while detectives chased down leads on who had been behind the wheel.
Weapons, suspected drugs and arrest
The Marin County Sheriff's Office said detectives ultimately found Zuniga in downtown Novato, arrested him and booked him into the Marin County Jail. Per the Marin County Sheriff's Office, he had a loaded .40-caliber pistol with a high-capacity magazine and suspected cocaine, and he refused to get out of the vehicle or provide a statement. The sheriff’s office says Zuniga told deputies he had just been involved in a road-rage incident near Novato.
Charges and investigation
Authorities booked Zuniga on charges that include reckless evading, violently resisting law enforcement, felon in possession of a firearm, felon in possession of ammunition and addict in possession of a firearm, according to KRON4. Detectives are asking anyone with information about a shooting or road-rage encounter on Monday or yesterday to call the Marin County Sheriff's Office at 415-479-2311 as the investigation continues.
The case remains active, and officials say more details will be released as they develop. Anyone with dash-cam footage or other potentially helpful information is urged to contact the sheriff’s office while detectives continue to follow up on leads.
