SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — A San Bernardino motorcyclist who didn't want a ticket led authorities on a chase that reached 160 mph, a speed that put him so far ahead of officers that he had time to stop for gas.
But in the end, law enforcement officers were still able to catch him with the help of a helicopter, and instead of getting a citation, he was arrested on suspicion of felony evading.
"It was a new one for me," said San Bernardino County sheriff's Sgt. Mike Kleczko, who initiated the chase.
Police said Edwin Cuahuizo, 35, ran a red light at the corner of Baseline and Etiwanda Avenue in Rancho Cucamonga at 1:27 p.m. Sunday.
Kleczko tried to stop the man, but the rider ran another signal and then got on the southbound 15 Freeway.
He headed down the shoulder of the 15 at 100 mph. Sheriff's aviation personnel were nearby in a helicopter, so they followed the man.
Cuahuizo raced back and forth between Rancho Cucamonga and Ontario, taking freeways and surface streets. At one point, he exited the freeway in Colton and was chased by Colton police until he got back on the freeway.
The California Highway Patrol tried to catch the man, but they couldn't keep up with his Suzuki GSX-R1000.
When Cuahuizo got onto the westbound 60 Freeway, he reached speeds of more than 160 mph, authorities said.
"He was pulling away from our helicopter," Kleczko said.
He sped through Chino and Pomona and then exited the 60 at Brea Canyon Road in Diamond Bar.
The man pulled into a gas station for a refill, with a helicopter hovering overhead. The CHP sent its fixed-wing aircraft to join in the chase.
The sheriff's and CHP aircraft followed the man until he reached San Bernardino and stopped at his home on Little Mountain Drive.
San Bernardino police officers took him into custody and later turned him over to the Sheriff's Department.