Santa Rosa Highway Drag Race Ends With Arrest For 1 Driver
SANTA ROSA (CBS SF) -- A man was arrested for allegedly drag racing in a Honda Civic on state Highway 12 in Santa Rosa early Saturday morning, California Highway Patrol officials said Tuesday.
A witness reported two cars drag racing on Highway 12 between Fulton and Stony Point Roads at about 12:25 a.m. Saturday, according to CHP Officer Jonathan Sloat.
Officers waited in a parking lot off of Highway 12 at South Wright Road and at 12:45 a.m., they saw three vehicles make a U-turn onto the eastbound side of the highway, Sloat said.
One of the vehicles, an SUV, blocked both lanes of traffic while the other two vehicles, both lowered coupes, stopped side-by-side in front of the SUV, Sloat said.
At that point, the CHP officers pulled out of the parking lot and the two coupes peeled away and began racing eastbound, Sloat said.
The officers turned on their emergency lights and drove after the vehicles, pacing them at more than 100 miles per hour, according to Sloat.
The SUV and a dark-colored coupe turned off their headlights and accelerated away, but officers were able to stay behind a Honda Civic, which pulled over onto the right shoulder, Sloat said.
Officers arrested the driver, Jimmy Dong, 31, of Vacaville, on suspicion of reckless driving, participating in a speeding contest and exhibition of speed, Sloat said.
Officers found allegedly illegal modifications to the Honda's engine, Sloat said. They took a small digital video camera that was mounted to the car as evidence.
The Honda was impounded for 30 days, Sloat said.
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