SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Earlier this month, California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers were involved in a high-speed chase on US50 west of Lake Tahoe.
On August 4, 2026, at approximately 5:25 am, CHP Officer Tackitt was on the south shoulder of US-50 west of Echo Summit. A black 2015 Mercedes C63 AMG sedan passed his location going eastbound. No violations were observed at this time, but when the officer turned on his headlights, pulled out, and began driving eastbound, the Mercedes started to pull away at an estimated speed of 85 mph. Officer Tackitt accelerated in an attempt to catch up to the Mercedes.
Officer Tackitt radioed to CHP Officer Burke, who was able to position himself on US-50 at “Gunmount.” As the Mercedes approached Officer Burke, he observed the Mercedes crossing double yellow lines to pass other eastbound traffic in the curve by “Gunmount.” Officer Burke also obtained a speed on the Mercedes of 70 mph on his RADAR. Officer Burke got behind the Mercedes and activated his lights and siren.
Officer Tackitt got behind Officer Burke. The Mercedes continued at a high rate of speed. The Mercedes then turned right onto southbound SR-89 with the officers following. The Mercedes accelerated and pulled away, and the officers lost sight of it. They turned off their emergency lights and sirens, but continued southbound on SR-89. Eventually, the officers came upon the Mercedes at Portal Drive, where it had crashed and became stuck on a boulder.
The driver and two passengers ran from the scene but were eventually apprehended and arrested. All three subjects sustained injuries.
The two passengers each had felony no-bail warrants. The driver had no criminal record but now faces charges to include felony evading, felony hit-and-run causing injuries, reckless driving causing injury, and resisting arrest, among others.