Three men were taken into custody late Saturday in Modesto after leading multiple law enforcement agencies in a high-speed chase through two counties that started right next to Applebee’s in Manteca.

According to Manteca Police Spokesperson Jodie Estarziau, the pursuit started just after 10 p.m. on Saturday when a Manteca patrol officer driving in the 1300 block of E. Yosemite Ave. spotted a black 2007 Ford F-150 that had been reported stolen from Turlock earlier in the week. 

He attempted to initiate a traffic stop and the driver fled – heading onto Highway 99 towards Modesto and flying through Ripon and eventually exiting on Kiernan Avenue in Salida. 

Little did the driver know he was driving straight towards the next police agency handoff.

After turning left on Kiernan the driver unknowingly cruised right past the California Highway Patrol’s Modesto Office where CHP officers were then able to take over the pursuit. They followed the driver on a wild romp that traversed several surface streets and continued into Ceres before coming back into Downtown Modesto.

Eventually the driver struck a white compact vehicle at the intersection of Tully Road and Briggsmore Avenue before careening into a traffic signal. It was there that officers were able to apprehend three men. 

The latter portion of the pursuit was picked up by ModestoNews.org, and a 5-minute video – showing both the vehicle careening down a Modesto street without its lights on at high speeds and after it smashed into the Briggsmore Avenue pole – is viewable on YouTube (http://youtu.be/bDqgDk_fB4E)

The identities of the three men booked into the Stanislaus County Jail were not available, although the driver was believed to have had outstanding warrants.