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AROMAS, Calif. - All the way from Ceres a tiny town near Modesto, a stolen dump truck's journey ended on the side of Murphy Hill Crossing. But not before a high speed chase by CHP, Gilroy Police and the Santa Clara County Regional Auto Theft Task Force.
They believe this dump truck is connected to several other big rigs and trailers stolen from the Gilroy area and are being moved back and forth to the Central Valley.
Today's chase began at three this afternoon on Highway 101 in Gilroy, and officers said even though no one was hurt, the driver was a threat to anyone on the road.
"The driver did veer on to oncoming traffic once we got off the freeway several times trying to either intimidate other cars or basically try to have us back off," said Sgt. Brian Wittmer, CHP.
Officers said the suspect drove all the way to the end of a dirt road of Murphy Crossing, got out of the truck and ran into a wooded area nearby. Leaving a passenger that was with him in the car.
"She claimed to have just been picked up by the driver and doesn't know who he is, Auto Theft Task Forces say they do know each other, and the driver was identified," said Wittmer.
Officers said because of the size of the truck and the speed it was going things could've been worse.
"We have to think twice about using any type of termination like a spike strip, in this case we were not going to do that because the vehicle could have overturned and hurt innocent bystanders or people in the car," said Wittmer.
