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Jan 26, 2024

Wrong

A wrong-way driver from Lompoc in a stolen truck led officers on a pursuit that lasted nearly three hours late Saturday night in San Luis Obispo County, according to the California Highway Patrol. At

A wrong-way driver from Lompoc in a stolen truck led officers on a pursuit that lasted nearly three hours late Saturday night in San Luis Obispo County, according to the California Highway Patrol.

At 10:35 p.m., a CHP officer on the Cuesta Grade noticed a three-axle flatbed truck traveling southbound in the northbound lanes of Highway 101, Officer Miguel Alvarez said.

The officer sped ahead of the wrong-way driver and turned around at Monterey Street to create a traffic break in an attempt to stop the errant vehicle, but that was not successful.

The driver used a break in the center divider to access the southbound lanes and continued traveling south in the southbound lanes.

Officers attempted a second enforcement stop, but the driver failed to yield and a pursuit occurred.

The suspect continued while traveling only 10 mph, with officers successfully deploying multiple spike strips in an attempt to disable and stop the vehicle.

The man turned around near the Laetitia Vineyard & Winery, south of Arroyo Grande, and continued to flee northbound.

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Several miles later, due to the damaged front tires from the spike strip deployments, the truck eventually came to a halt on the freeway near Spyglass Drive, Alvarez said.

The driver refused to exit the vehicle, so a CHP officer used pepper spray in hopes of convincing him to comply with commands.

“The suspect exited the vehicle with pruning shears in hand and was not complying with officer’s commands,” Alavarez said.

An officer employed a stun gun and the driver — identified as Antonio Vega Torres Jr., 43, of Lompoc — was taken into custody without incident.

The incident spanned two hours, 45 minutes, the CHP said.

“The driver is suspected of being under the influence of a drug and the truck was later confirmed to be stolen,” Alvarez said.

After the being examined at the hospital, Torres was booked into the San Luis Obispo County Jail.

Noozhawk North County editor Janene Scully can be reached at [email protected].