Police: Atwater man arrested after drunken high-speed chase, crash

A high-speed chase ended early Tuesday in Merced County when a 27-year-old Atwater man crashed his vehicle near Livingston, the Atwater Police Department reported.

Raymond D. Black tried to run away after crashing the white Mercury Sable near Vinewood Avenue, east of Livingston, Lt. Samuel Joseph told the Sun-Star.

Black was arrested following a short chase.

Officers spotted the white car speeding just after midnight on Winton Way. The driver, later identified by police as Black, did not stop and accelerated away. Police pursued the driver through the outskirts of Winton and eventually through Livingston with speeds ranging from 55 to 115 mph, authorities said.

Officers were preparing to break off the chase when the vehicle went off the roadway and slammed into a tree in an orchard, police said.

Black was not injured. He was booked into Merced County Jail on suspicion of drunken driving, police said.

He remained in custody Tuesday afternoon. A booking photograph and bail amount were not available.

This story was originally published May 10, 2016 at 1:53 PM with the headline "Police: Atwater man arrested after drunken high-speed chase, crash."