A Las Vegas man was arrested at around noon on Monday near Herlong after he was observed crossing over the double-yellow center line on Highway 395 while driving in excess of 100-miles an hour. The driver struck a rock wall while trying to hide from the officer and was later found to have had a loaded firearm in the vehicle.
According to details released by the Susanville office of the California Highway Patrol, Officer Pratt was patrolling north on US 395, approximately 1.5 miles north of The Mark while at the same time a southbound Nissan Sonata was passing another southbound vehicle, and was doing so while cresting a hill.
The pass was over double-double solid yellow lines, the equivalent of a divided highway.
“Officer Pratt,” explains CHP Public Information Officer Bruce Thuelchassaigne, “encountered the Sonata in his lane which was traveling in excess of 100-miles per hour and forced officer Pratt into taking evasive actions.”
Pratt drove his patrol vehicle onto the shoulder to avoid a head-on collision, then made a U-turn and attempted to overtake the Sonata.
“The driver of the Sonata, saw the marked patrol vehicle, and attempted to hide at The Mark, but due to his high rate of speed, lost control of the Sonata and struck a rock wall.”
Pratt ordered the driver, identified by the CHP as 21-year old Las Vegas, Nevada, resident Christopher Summers, to exit the vehicle.
A search of the vehicle revealed that the driver had placed a loaded pistol in the glove box.
Pratt placed the driver under arrest for reckless driving, and for carrying a loaded, concealed weapon. The juvenile passenger was placed with a guardian though Lassen Child Protective Services. The other male passenger was transported to Susanville.
There was a dog in the Sonata that was transported to the Lassen County Animal Shelter for safekeeping.
