Driver identified in wrong-way crash, police chase

The driver of a pickup truck that overturned and burst into flames Sunday whom authorities say was fleeing from officers remained hospitalized Tuesday in Fresno, listed in stable condition.

The California Highway Patrol on Tuesday identified the driver as 53-year-old Richard Zeroski of Gustine.

Zeroski suffered burns and other injuries Sunday morning after leading CHP officers on a chase from Livingston to Atwater, authorities said. The incident began after Zeroski was spotted driving erratically on southbound Highway 99, weaving across lanes of traffic, according to the CHP. During the pursuit, which began about 9 a.m., authorities say Zeroski drove from the southbound lanes of Highway 99, across the median and into the northbound lanes, where he drove the wrong way against traffic for a short time.

Zeroski’s vehicle, a white Dodge Ram pickup truck, clipped one oncoming vehicle and went off the highway, crashing through a guardrail before traveling out of control down an embankment, then overturning on Atwater Boulevard, near Maple Street, where the truck burst into flames, the CHP said.

Emergency responders pulled Zeroski from the fiery wreck and rushed him to a Fresno hospital, where he remained Tuesday.

At least one occupant of the other vehicle hit by the pickup truck suffered possible minor injuries and was treated as a precaution, the CHP said.

Officer Moises Onsurez on Tuesday said investigators are still looking into the incident. He said it was undetermined whether Zeroski would face any criminal charges.

This story was originally published January 20, 2015 at 10:54 AM with the headline "Driver identified in wrong-way crash, police chase."