By Bill Lindelof and Cathy Locke
blindelof@sacbee.com
A man who died in a crash Sunday night after leading California Highway Patrol officers on a high-speed chase in the Elk Grove area has been identified by the Sacramento County Coroner's Office as Jose Roberto Sanchez, 35, of Sacramento.
Sanchez died at 9:20 p.m. when the Toyota Tundra pickup he was driving southbound on Grant Line Road collided nearly head-on with a Ford pickup just south of Bond Road. The driver of the Ford pickup was hospitalized with major injuries.
CHP spokesman Officer Michael Bradley said the pursuit began about 9:10 p.m. Sunday when a man, later identified as Sanchez, was spotted by a paramedic team driving the Toyota southbound near 47th Avenue on Highway 99. The ambulance crew reported that the truck was weaving and could be driven by a drunken driver, Bradley said.
The CHP pulled in behind the Toyota and tried to pull the driver over. Instead, the Toyota exited at Sheldon Road and went east, blowing stop signs and stop lights at 70 to 80 mph, said Bradley.
The Toyota then traveled southbound on Grant Line Road, continuing to run stop signs and swerving onto the shoulder, now at 80 to 90 mph, said Bradley. At Grant Line and Bond roads, Sanchez allegedly ran the stop light and crossed over the double yellow line, hitting the Ford pickup.
Sanchez, who was not wearing a seat belt, was declared dead at the scene.
It was not initially clear if he was driving under the influence. Toxicology tests are pending.
Photo caption: Police and fire personnel work at the scene of a fatal crash in Elk Grove Monday morning. Photo by Robert Petersen / Special to The Bee
KCRA: Deadly crash in Elk Grove - Sept. 26, 2011









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