The California Highway Patrol has released details of last Thursday’s two-hour pursuit across Plumas County involving a Caltrans snow plow truck which had been stolen near the entrance to Lassen National Park on Highway 36.
At around 9:30p.m. the CHP received a report that a disabled vehicle had spun out on the snow-covered highway east of the park.
Six inches of snow had accumulated on the roadway and when the CHP officer arrived on scene he was contacted by a Caltrans snow plow operator who reported that the driver who had previously spun out had now stolen a 2002 International two-axle snow plow truck.
The officer spotted the stolen plow truck driving east on Highway 36 and gave chase at speeds varying from 5 to 45 miles per hour.
While being pursued with lights and siren activated, the driver failed to yield and drove in a reckless manner, crossing into the opposing lane, starting and stopping, raising and lowering the plow blade and forcing several motorists off of the roadway. The suspect continued eastbound and then turned south onto SR-89.
Additional officers responded from Chester, Quincy and Susanville. After almost two hours, the suspect came to a stop on SR-89, placed the truck into reverse, and then intentionally backed into the pursuing officer’s vehicle.
The suspect then continued south on SR-89 where he encountered an unoccupied Caltrans truck blocking the roadway. He intentionally struck the truck and continued onto westbound SR-70.
The stolen plow truck became disabled on SR-70 just west of the Greenville Wye where the suspect, identified as 31 year-old Cottonwood resident Matthew James Urban, was taken into custody for DUI, vehicle theft, assault with a deadly weapon, possession of stolen property and vandalism.
There were no injuries to CHP or Caltrans personnel.
