Saturday evening pursuit leads to fiery crash, driver arrested

On Saturday, May 22nd, 2021, at approximately 7:20 pm, a Turlock Police officer on patrol in the area of Spruce St and South Ave attempted to make a traffic stop on a vehicle for a violation of the California Vehicle Code when the driver, later identified as Edgar Madrigal, 20, of Turlock, began fleeing from him.

Madrigal went westbound on South Ave and eventually crashed into the embankment where South Ave turns into S Tully Rd. The crash caused the grass to set on fire, which later set the vehicle on fire, however, Madrigal was able to successfully escape the vehicle before that point. Madrigal was taken into custody without further incident and after receiving medical clearance from a local area hospital, was booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center on a single charge of flight from a peace officer with disregard to public safety.

The Turlock Fire Department’s Battalion 4, Squad 32, and Engine 34 were dispatched to put out the fire and the California Highway Patrol was requested for traffic control on the freeway due to the fire’s proximity to it. The fire was quickly brought under control and extinguished without causing any further damage or injuries.