HOLLISTER, CALIFORNIA – May 2, 2013 – On April 28, 2013, suspect Angel Estrada (29) of San Jose, CA was arrested by Hollister Police after crashing a stolen vehicle he was driving during a vehicle pursuit.
Early Sunday morning at about 2:00 am, Hollister Police officer Michael Paddy noticed a gray Honda Civic driving at a high rate of speed on South Street. He was able to catch up to the vehicle and SCR911 dispatch was able to confirm the plate belonged to a reported stolen vehicle.
Officer Paddy continued to follow the vehicle to the area of Westside Boulevard and San Juan-Hollister Road where, along with other Hollister officers, he attempted to make a felony car stop. The suspect vehicle failed to yield to the officers and accelerated away at a high rate of speed westbound on San Juan-Hollister Road. The suspect vehicle turned on Miller Road and went through several stop signs and continued westbound on Buena Vista Road.
The suspect vehicle was driven at a high rate of speed on Buena Vista Road and the driver temporarily lost control of the car at two 90 degree turns in the roadway and continued to flee.
The Honda continued onto a private dirt road at the west end of Buena Vista Road. Visibility dropped considerably due to the dirt cloud produced by the speeding vehicle. Officer Paddy observed as the suspect vehicle seemed to drop and disappear from view. Officer Paddy immediately stopped his vehicle only a few feet from the edge of a cliff. The Honda had gone over the cliff and crashed into the bottom of a ravine. Officers located the car on its roof approximately 50 feet below. The driver of the car was able to crawl out of the wreckage and ignored officer’s commands to stop. He tried to run but he was caught a short distance away by Hollister Police Officers and San Benito County Deputies.
The driver was identified as Angel Estrada. He is on parole and a known gang member. He was treated for his minor injuries and eventually booked at the San Benito County Jail for the following charges: Possession of a stolen vehicle, failure to yield to an officer with disregard to public safety, driving under the influence, possession of burglary tools, auto theft and parole violations.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is requested to contact Officer Paddy at 636-4330. Persons wishing to remain anonymous may call WeTip at (800) 78-CRIME. Information provided to WeTip may qualify for a reward.
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Prepared by: Dan Winn, Sergeant
Approved by: Carlos Reynoso, Interim Chief of Police
