Accident – Death – Obituary News :

Two Ukiah Women Hospitalized After SUV Collides with Their Vehicle During High-Speed Pursuit

Two women from Ukiah were taken to the hospital on Thursday evening following a collision between their vehicle and an SUV driven by a suspect fleeing a traffic stop. The incident occurred during a high-speed pursuit, as reported by the Ukiah Police Department.

Details of the Incident

According to the UPD, the incident took place around 9 p.m. on January 18. An officer on patrol in the 1000 block of North State Street heard a loud engine and screeching tires near Elm Street. Upon investigation, the officer witnessed a maroon Chevrolet Tahoe traveling northbound through the intersection of Garrett Drive and Elm Street at an extremely high rate of speed.

Attempting to apprehend the suspect, the officer turned onto Elm Street. However, the Tahoe disregarded a stop sign and managed to escape the officer’s sight momentarily. It was later spotted exiting the parking lot of Honey Fluff Donuts in the 1200 block of North State Street, nearly colliding with the officer’s vehicle in the process.

Although the officer initiated a traffic stop, the driver of the Tahoe, identified as Aaron B. Norbury, a 38-year-old resident of Ukiah, failed to yield. Norbury proceeded to navigate in and out of parking lots while displaying driving patterns consistent with someone under the influence of alcohol.

Continuing the pursuit northbound on North State Street, the UPD officer requested assistance from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office and the California Highway Patrol. As the officer approached Thurston Auto Plaza, he witnessed a collision between the Chevrolet Tahoe and a white Audi sedan. The impact caused the Tahoe to roll over the top of the Audi.

Injuries and Emergency Response

Both women inside the Audi, aged 25 and 22 and hailing from Ukiah, sustained injuries as a result of the crash. The Ukiah Valley Fire Authority and an air ambulance promptly responded to the scene to provide necessary medical assistance.

The driver of the Audi was transported to Adventist Health Ukiah Valley Emergency Room for treatment. Meanwhile, her passenger had to be extricated from the sedan before being airlifted to a hospital located outside the county.

The Suspect and Legal Consequences

Aaron B. Norbury, the driver of the Tahoe, was reported to have suffered minor injuries. However, he displayed signs of heavy intoxication, including red and watery eyes, slurred speech, and a strong odor of alcohol emanating from his person.

Following treatment at AHUV, a blood draw was conducted on Norbury before he was taken to the Mendocino County Jail. He has been booked on suspicion of driving under the influence, evading police, reckless driving, and driving on a license that had previously been suspended due to a DUI offense.

Due to Norbury’s prior criminal history and the severity of the crimes committed during the pursuit, the UPD Detective Bureau will be seeking a bail enhancement for the suspect. The incident remains under active investigation, and the UPD expresses gratitude to the MCSO, CHP, UVFA, and AHUV personnel for their invaluable assistance.

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