Car chase ends with crash into Congressman’s office

A suspected drunken driver led police on a wild chase before running over spike strip early today and crashing into the Chula Vista office of U.S. Rep. Bob Filner, police said.

The driver, whose name was withheld, was taken to UCSD Hospital and expected to survive, Chula Vista police Lt. Vern Solis said. The pursuit began around 1:30 a.m. today when an officer tried to stop the silver truck, which was heading west on state Route 54 near Woodman Drive, for speeding and failing to use turn signals.

The driver refused to pull over and continued west on state Route 54 at speeds up to 110 mph before exiting on southbound Interstate 805, Solis said. A second unit joined in the pursuit on Interstate 805 and the truck soon exited on westbound Bonita Road, driving on local roads with a speed of 54 mph.

Another officer laid down a spike strip at F Street and Third Avenue, according to Solis. The driver came to a stop right before hitting the spike strip, he said.

At that point, the officer pointed h is gun at the driver and ordered him out of the vehicle, according to the Solis. The driver punched the accelerator, driving over the spike strip and continuing through the intersection.

In the 200 block of F Street, he began to lose control, and the truck hit the median and crashed into the Democrat’s office at 333 F St. Solis called the damage to the building significant. The suspect was taken to the UCSD Trauma Center with complaints of neck and shoulder injuries, Solis said.

Officers at the scene found an open container of alcohol in the vehicle. Once he is released from the hospital, he is expected to be arrested on suspicion of felony evading, driving on a suspended license and drunken driving, Solis said.

The building’s property manager was notified. Filner has two offices in the 51st District — the one on F Street and another in Imperial, which is just north of El Centro. It was not immediately known if Filner is in San Diego this weekend or in Washington, D.C.

Tags: car chase, chula vista, Filner, SDNN

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