Driver escapes after high speed pursuit from South Lake Tahoe to Zephyr Cove

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A driver and his passenger escaped after leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase from the Heavenly Village area of South Lake Tahoe to Zephyr Cove, Nevada. They crashed their car into a guard rail and ran away.

On Sunday, August 4 an officer from the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) attempted to make a traffic stop at 2:06 a.m. when the driver failed to yield and took off. A pursuit ensued into Douglas County, at times reaching high rates of speed. Six minutes later the suspect's car crashed into a guard rail on Highway 50 in Zephyr Cove.

SlTPD K9 Rikki was taken to the scene but was unable to track and locate the suspect.

The driver of the crashed vehicle, 26-year-old Carson City resident Jose Perez, is currently wanted on three felonies out of El Dorado County and is still outstanding. He is wanted on assault and spousal battery charges.

SLTPD is working with Douglas County Sheriff's Office on possible additional charges stemming from the pursuit and crash.

The case has moved over to the SLTPD detective division and is under investigation. No other details are available at this time.

Anyone having information pertaining to the this is asked to call the non-emergency police dispatch line at 530.542.6100.