Chase Leads to Crash, but Suspect Flees

An attempted traffic stop Wednesday morning led to a high-speed
chase, a crash and unsuccessful search for the driver.
Morgan Hill – An attempted traffic stop Wednesday morning led to a high-speed chase, a crash and unsuccessful search for the driver.

Morgan Hill Police officer Joe Burdick was patrolling the area of East Dunne Avenue and U.S. 101, when he saw the driver of a black BMW run a red light at the northbound exit ramp from the highway onto East Dunne Avenue, said MHPD Cmdr. Dave Swing. 

Burdick attempted to stop the BMW, and the driver pulled into the parking lot of a McDonald’s restaurant on Condit Road. 

“But he didn’t stop, he took the northbound on-ramp back onto 101,” Swing said.

Once on the highway again, he said, the driver of the BMW drove dangerously, weaving in an out of traffic, at times passing vehicles on the shoulder of the road, reaching speeds in excess of 120 mph, with Burdick in pursuit.

Because of the potential of danger to other drivers, Swing said, Burdick ended the pursuit. The suspect exited at Cochrane Road, but smashed into a traffic signal, then pulled into a nearby parking lot and abandoned the BMW. Although officers responded to the area, they were unable to locate the suspect.

When the registered owner of the BMW was located through the license plate, she told officers that Efren Fregoso, 36, of Gilroy had the car. Items that may link Fregoso to the vehicle were found inside the BMW. 

Fregoso has an outstanding warrant out of the Gilroy Police Department.