2 Merced County teens arrested after high-speed chase in stolen car

Two 17-year-old Livingston boys were arrested Tuesday after allegedly leading police on a lengthy high-speed chase in a stolen vehicle, authorities reported.

The vehicle, a 1991 Toyota Camry had been reported stolen early Tuesday out of Merced County, the California Highway Patrol said.

Around 11:30 a.m., Atwater police Officer David Walker spotted the vehicle traveling north on Winton Way, approaching Bellevue Road, police Lt. Samuel Joseph said.

“The vehicle failed to yield and a pursuit ensued,” Joseph said. “During the pursuit, the Atwater Police Department requested assistance as the pursuit was traveling at a high rate of speed throughout the county.”

CHP Officer Moises Onsurez said officers pursued the vehicle on various roads from an area around Winton to Livingston and then Delhi before the chase turned back toward Livingston. The vehicle left the roadway several times, traveling through multiple orchards with officers in pursuit.

A CHP helicopter joined the chase and helped officers track the speeding vehicle.

The pursuit eventually continued on southbound Highway 99 where a spike strip was utilized.

Onsurez said the vehicle’s driver tried to swerve around the strip but was unable to avoid it and the front tires were deflated near the Winton Parkway highway exit.

Both teenagers ran from the vehicle and were captured a short time later in the parking lot of a fast-food restaurant.

The exact length of the pursuit could not be immediately confirmed.

Police said the teenagers were expected to face multiple charges, including evading police, a felony.

No one was injured and no other property was damaged.

This story was originally published August 25, 2015 at 5:01 PM with the headline "2 Merced County teens arrested after high-speed chase in stolen car."