Man arrested after leading officers on high speed chase from Tahoe to West Slope

A high speed pursuit that started near Sierra-at-Tahoe on Wednesday ended with the suspect crashing his 2006 BMW and being airflighted off the highway due to his injuries.

On September 7, a California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer spotted 27-year-old Allen Elseth from Lodi, Calif., driving at high rates of speed and crossing over the double-yellow lines on Highway 50 near the ski resort exit.

CHP attempted to make a traffic enforcement stop for speeding, but Elseth failed to pull over and a high-speed pursuit ensued. Both vehicles reached speeds of 100 mph through the mountains. The SLT CHP officer had to pull back his pursuit as he experienced electrical problems with his vehicle near Kyburz.

Placerville CHP units picked up the pursuit when they observed Elseth driving westbound at Icehouse Road. They too attempted a traffic enforcement stop and the BMW yielded to the shoulder near Pacific House. As officers approached the suspect vehicle, the vehicle fled westbound at a high rate of speed.

CHP officers ran back to their patrol cars and pursued the suspect. Officers attempted a spike strip at Sly Park Road which the suspect was able to avoid.

Speeds reached 130 mph as Elseth started using on ramps and off ramps, crossing the center divide and the right shoulder in an attempt to evade the pursuing officers. CHP helicopter H-20 joined in the pursuit.

According to Sgt. Houdeshell of CHP Placerville, the suspect eventually lost control of his vehicle near the Snow Road overpass in Pollock Pines, struck the center divide, crossed the lanes and struck a tree.

Elseth was ejected and came to a stop against the freeway fence. He received immediate medical attention and was airlifted to Sutter Roseville Hospital. Once medically cleared he was taken to Placerville where he was booked into El Dorado County Jail on multiple charges.

Houdeshell said Elseth was booked on charges of felony evading, misdemeanor driving under the influence of drugs, obstruction and on a no-bail felony warrant out of Nevada and held on $67,000 bail. He subsequently posted bail (even with the no-bail warrant) and was released from jail.

One officer sustained minor injuries as a result of deploying the Spike strip.

-South Tahoe Now staff report