California man in custody following RV chase that began in Tahoe and ended in Gardnerville
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Mon, 08/27/2018 - 11:07am
MINDEN — An Alturas, Calif., man is in custody following a chase involving a motorhome late Sunday night that began in South Lake Tahoe then eastbound Highway 50 on Spooner and ended with a crash into a building on Highway 395 in Gardnerville.
Christopher Debastiani was booked for assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer, reckless driving and wanton disregard, DUI drug, destruction of property, speeding 21-30 mph over the speed limit, failure to maintain lane, failure to obey a traffic control device, no driving on right side of road, headlights required, no taillights, obstructing and resisting a peace officer. The total bail is $102,082.
On Sunday at around 10:30 p.m., Douglas County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a reckless driver on US Highway 50 in South Lake Tahoe, California headed towards the Stateline. The motorhome was reported to have been speeding, running red lights, and driving without headlamps on, said DCSO Sgt. Bernadette Smith in a news release.
Douglas County Sheriff’s deputies observed a 1997 Airstream motorhome with California plates on Highway 50 and cross into the State of Nevada. The motorhome was estimated to be going 55 mph in a 35 mph zone and observed traveling without any tail or headlamps.
An enforcement stop was initiated and the motorhome was not observed to be slowing down or pulling over. The motorhome was observed to speed up to approximately 80 mph and swerving across the double yellow line.
Spike strips were placed by DCSO near US Highway 50 and Hwy 395 and the spike strips were successful, but immediate effects were not observed. Nevada Highway Patrol and Carson City Sheriff’s Office were involved also.
The motorhome continued southbound on Highway 395. The tires on the motorhome began to tear away and the motorhome continued on its right rims, showering the roadway with sparks.
Spike strips were placed again near Highway 395 and 88, but the motorhome kept traveling. The motorhome drove around a law enforcement road block and across a curb, turned into Town of Minden property and caused some damage. The motorhome drove around a second law enforcement road block and swerved toward two deputies who were on foot in the area. Those deputies got out of the way of the moving motorhome. The motorhome continued on southbound on Highway 395 into Gardnerville.
The motorhome eventually ran off the roadway into a building located at US 395 and Douglas Avenue. The driver, Christopher Debastiani, physically resisted the deputies who were attempting to remove him from the vehicle. He was eventually transported to Carson Valley Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries and later booked into the Minden jail.
Nevada Highway Patrol is handing the traffic accident investigation.
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