DUI and domestic violence suspect hits five in chase through Fresno, Madera counties
A DUI suspect wanted for domestic violence charges struck five vehicles during a hit-and-run chase through Fresno and Madera counties on Monday afternoon, California Highway Patrol said.
The chase started around 12:30 p.m. in Fresno and lasted approximately 45 minutes before the suspect, Benjamin Smith, 36, was arrested just east of Kerman, CHP Fresno spokesman Officer Mike Salas said.
Those struck by Smith – three people in Fresno County, and two in Madera County – reportedly had minor injuries and damage to their vehicles.
Salas said CHP used a pursuit intervention technique to stop Smith: A patrol car bumped the back of Smith’s black Camaro, causing the car to spin-out and stop.
Smith was arrested for hit-and-run, DUI – including alcohol and drugs – and domestic violence charges out of Fresno, Salas said.
Fresno police first tried to pull over Smith. Salas said the chase started approximately in an area east of Highway 99 and the city of Fresno. Smith traveled north on Highway 99 into Madera County and then returned to Fresno County.
A Fresno police helicopter followed Smith overhead as officers pursued from the ground.
Salas said Fresno CHP pursued Smith for approximately five minutes from around Biola to just east of Kerman, where the pursuit intervention technique was used to stop him.
“In most cases we will not continue to pursue,” Salas said of the chase, where Smith reached speeds over 80 mph at times. “But in this situation, the driver was extremely dangerous while he was driving, and public safety was our main issue, to make sure that he didn’t hurt or kill anyone due to his erratic driving.”
Smith also struck and knocked over a traffic light where he was arrested. Madera CHP was also involved in the pursuit.
