On Tuesday, October 5, 2021, at approximately 7:06 a.m., Nevada Highway Patrol (NHP) Troopers assisted the Reno Police Department in pursuit of a suspect driving a green 2005 Honda sedan. The suspect was reported to have been involved in an assault with a deadly weapon. Troopers joined the pursuit in the area of IR-80 eastbound near E. McCarran Blvd. The driver was reported to be driving at speeds up to 110 miles per hour.
Near Washoe County Mile Marker 44 (just east of Wadsworth Exit 43), Lyon County Deputies had stop sticks in place in an attempt to stop the vehicle. The vehicle avoided the stop sticks, crossing the unpaved center median, and went the wrong way (eastbound in the westbound lanes) towards Fernley. The vehicle then exited at the westbound onramp (Exit 46) still wrong way and stopped. The driver exited the vehicle, approached another vehicle in an apparent attempt to carjack the vehicle.
An NHP Trooper crossed the unpaved median towards the driver of the Honda at which time he returned the Honda and headed south on SR-427 in Fernley at a high rate of speed. The driver avoided an attempt by an NHP Trooper to perform a precision immobilization technique (PIT). The vehicle went the wrong way on SR-427 (southbound in the northbound lane) and steered to strike three NDOT workers on the shoulder. The NDOT workers ran for the cover of their dump truck and avoided being hit.
The vehicle then traveled east on SR-828 at a high rate of speed and passed other vehicles unsafely. The vehicle then approached US-50A and traveled west. The vehicle crossed the raised concrete median and went the wrong way again (westbound in the eastbound lanes).
In the interest of public safety, an NHP Trooper conducted a successful PIT maneuver on the driver-side rear of the vehicle. A second NHP Trooper blocked in the vehicle from the front. A Lyon County Deputy blocked in the vehicle from the rear. There were three occupants in the vehicle. The occupants were removed from the vehicle and detained without injury.
The occupants were checked out by medical personnel and medically cleared. No members of law enforcement were injured in the incident.
Upon further investigation, the vehicle was determined to be stolen. The driver of the vehicle, identified as Jose Delacruz (a 35-year-old Nevada resident) was arrested on the following charges: reckless driving (felony), possession of a stolen vehicle (felony), eluding (felony), three charges for assault with a deadly weapon (felony) parole violation out of CA (felony), reckless endangerment (gross misdemeanor), driving under the influence (misdemeanor), possession of stolen property (felony) and possession of drug paraphernalia (misdemeanor). Delacruz was booked into the Lyon County jail. The two other occupants were released from the scene.
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