Suspected car thief leads officers on high speed chase, crashes in Watsonville

A suspected car thief led officers on a high speed chase and ultimately crashed in Watsonville.

Officers with the California Highway Patrol spotted 20-year-old Jesse Anaya Castillo speeding in a 1986 Nissan pickup on Highway 1 near Highway 129 around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday. He got off the freeway at Green Valley Road and continued to try to get away from CHP.

Castillo collided with a tree on Green Valley Road near Maranatha Drive. CHP said he attempted to run but was taken into custody.

It was later determined that the truck was stolen.

Castillo was arrested for felony evading, vehicle theft, driving with a suspended driver’s license, possession of burglary tools, possession of stolen property, possession of a controlled substance, resisting arrest and hit and run.

Alcohol and drugs were not believed to be a contributing factor in the traffic collision.

The arrest and traffic accident are still under investigation.