Stolen fireworks linked to high-speed chase in Merced County

More than $1,000 in fireworks remained missing Thursday after they were stolen from a booth operated by the Atwater Police Activities League.

The theft of the fireworks appears to be connected to the search for a man who escaped arrest after a high-speed chase between Atwater and Merced, California Highway Patrol officers reported.

Many of the fireworks were recovered, but more than $1,000 remain missing, according to Steve Jensen, a spokesman for the activities league.

“The proceeds go the Jr. Giants,” Jensen said Thursday. “We’re trying to build a baseball diamond for the kids.”

About 1:12 a.m., a CHP officer spotted a maroon-colored Mitsubishi Montero heading south on Highway 99 at high speed, approaching Franklin Avenue, officers said in a news release.

A chase ensued when the driver failed to pull to the side of the road, accelerating to speeds of 100 mph. The vehicle exited the highway at 16th Street in Merced, crossed under the highway overpass and made a sharp right turn onto the dirt embankment. The vehicle went airborne over the railroad tracks, landing on the opposite side, officers said.

The vehicle then smashed through a chain link fence, raced up a concrete freeway embankment and continued south along the fence for a short time before the driver, identified only as a person wearing dark clothing, fled on foot.

Officers said the search for the driver continued late Thursday. Inside the vehicle, officers found two boxes of fireworks belonging to the stand operated by the activities league, authorities said.

Investigators eventually learned someone had broken into the stand and removed a large number of fireworks.

“We have some of it back, but we’re still missing easily over $1,000 in merchandise,” Jensen said.

This story was originally published July 2, 2015 at 5:03 PM with the headline "Stolen fireworks linked to high-speed chase in Merced County."