A short high-speed police pursuit of a reckless driver from Ceres into Modesto on Monday evening ended with a crash and apprehension of the driver, who was wanted for a prior auto theft charge.

The incident began on New Year’s Day at 11:19 p.m. when Ceres Police Officer Eric Souza observed a Honda CRV speeding and weaving in between cars while eastbound on Whitmore Avenue at Blaker Road. Officer Souza caught up to the vehicle on Highway 99 near the S. Ninth Street exit. The driver, Robert Garcia, 19, of Visalia, failed to stop and the pursuit began and lasted for about a mile.

The Honda crashed into a vehicle on the bridge span of Highway 99 over the Tuolumne River. Garcia collision, the vehicle continued to the north end of the bridge where he exited the vehicle and jumped a five-foot drop. A perimeter was established but Garcia was not found.

While investigating an unrelated incident in the area of 6th and J streets, Modesto Police Department located Garcia and phoned Officer Souza who responded and identified Garcia as the driver in the chase.

Garcia was arrested and charged with evading police in a vehicle, fleeing the scene of an injury collision, resisting arrest, traveling at speeds in excess of 100 mph and driving without a license. A records check revealed Garcia had a felony warrant for his arrest for auto theft. Garcia was later into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center.