Commander Hanson said that the small car was low to the ground and its suspension was caught on the second set of railroad tracks.“It threw the whole rear end of the car into the air…it went straight up” onto its front bumper and then caught fire.The passengers were able to exit the vehicle right before it burst into flames. Two female passengers fled on foot but Lara and Castro were quickly captured by the officers with help from Sr. Officer Fogata and his K-9 Evan.Lara was arrested on suspicion of felony evading and an unrelated misdemeanor warrant. Castro was arrested on suspicion of resisting arrest and for four unrelated misdemeanor warrants. Both were Lara and Castro were transported to Ventura County Jail.
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Two SPPD officers jumped out of the way but the car, after turning right onto Railroad Avenue and trying an evasive maneuver, burst into flames after being stopped by the railroad tracks. |
Pursuit ends when fleeing vehicle caught on railroad tracks
October 27, 2004
Santa Paula Police Department
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula TimesReadying the hot dogs for the barbecue to thank Santa Paula Beautiful! cleanup crew was interrupted after a speeding car startled two off-duty Santa Paula police officers doing grilling duty. The two SPPD officers jumped out of the way but the car, after turning right onto Railroad Avenue and trying an evasive maneuver, burst into flames after being stopped by the railroad tracks.Santa Paula Police arrested Daniel Lara, 19 of Santa Paula, the driver of the vehicle, and passenger David Castro, 20 also of Santa Paula.The incident got started on Saturday around noon when SPPD Officer Allen Macias and Reserve Officer Ryan Smith spied Castro – wanted on four misdemeanor warrants – riding in the vehicle in the 1200 block of Saticoy Street. The officers attempted to stop the vehicle but Lara took off and sped through the downtown area for about two miles before he raced back into the residential area.Lara was speeding southbound on North Mill Street when SPPD Commander Mark Hanson and Sr. Officer Jimmy Fogata, barbecuing hot dogs on the eastside of The Mill, saw the small car – which had a flat front tire - coming their way followed closely by patrol cars.Both officers jumped out of the way but the vehicle made a sharp right turn onto Railroad Avenue before veering to the left just west of 9th Street.
