PORT ANGELES — Police continue to search for the driver of a stolen vehicle who led Port Angeles police officers, Clallam County sheriff’s deputies and State Patrol troopers on a 23-mile high-speed chase.
The driver of the red 2000 Honda Del Sol stolen from Kitsap County reached speeds of 100 mph during the 19-minute pursuit after midnight Tuesday, according to Deputy Chief Jason Viada of the Port Angeles Police Department (PAPD).
Once stopped by a pursuit intervention technique on Del Guzzi Drive near Lindberg Road, the driver fled into the woods and has not been found, according to Viada.
Two passengers, both from Kitsap County, also fled but were detained; they were not charged.
A firearm was located in the vehicle.
The chase began at about 20 minutes after midnight Tuesday when a PAPD officer saw a motor vehicle traveling the wrong way on First Street near Peabody Street, Viada said.
Another officer then saw the same erratically driven vehicle southbound on Lincoln near Fifth Street, and attempted to stop him. Viada said the driver was “apparently impaired.”
Instead of stopping, the driver took off.
The chase continued on Port Angeles streets, east on U.S. Highway 101 almost to Carlsborg — where speeds got up to 80 mph — then back toward Port Angeles, traveling on roads south of Highway 101 before returning to Port Angeles, speeding up to 100 mph, and up Del Guzzi Drive to the Lindberg Road area.
Officers attempted to stop the car, which had been reported as stolen, with spike strips and pursuit intervention techniques. They managed to stop the driver in a field near Lindberg Road.
Three people fled from the vehicle. Two stun gun applications failed to stop the driver, Viada said.
