Amador County -- Amador County Sheriff’s Department and the California Highway Patrol released details of the incident Tuesday saying that a man was killed when his vehicle crashed while being pursued by authorities, after the man stole a car by force, by pushing a woman out of the moving vehicle.

Amador County Sheriff’s Detectives positively identified the decedent through known tattoos and a fingerprint identification conducted by the Amador County District Attorney’s Office. ACSO said the decedent, Joshua Wash Hoyopatubbi, 32, of Stockton, had multiple warrants at the time he stole the vehicle and led Amador Sheriff’s Deputies and CHP on the pursuit.

Undersheriff Jim Wegner released details of the incident, which began at 11:44 p.m. Monday (Feb. 20), when an Sheriff’s Deputy attempted to detain a white Saturn sedan on Highway 88 in Martell for expired registration. “The vehicle was occupied by a female driver and male passenger. The vehicle initially started to yield on Highway 88 at Wicklow Way, but sped away eastbound.”

Wegner in the release said the “vehicle then slowed at the Highway 49/88 intersection in Martell, wherein the male passenger pushed the female driver from the vehicle as it was still moving.”

The “male suspect then led Amador County Sheriff’s Deputies on a vehicle pursuit which traveled South through the city of Jackson on Highway 49, east on Clinton Road to Tabeaud Road, and then west on Highway 88.” During the pursuit, a CHP unit “took over as the primary pursuing vehicle” with a Sheriff’s Deputy secondary, communicating the pursuit.”

Wegner said “a second CHP unit and an Amador County Sheriff’s Sergeant followed the pursuit, which was also monitored overhead by a CHP aircraft.” Sheriff’s Deputies “deployed tire deflation strips on Highway 88 in Pine Grove and on Highway 88 at Climax Road.” Hoyopatubbi “was able to avoid the devices. A Jackson Police Officer deployed tire deflation strips on Highway 88 at Court Street which the suspect was unable to avoid.”

Wegner said the “pursuit continued until the suspect vehicle lost control and crashed on Highway 88 at Broadway Street in Jackson. The suspect was found pinned within the vehicle. The engine compartment of the vehicle then caught fire which was quickly extinguished by two Amador County Sheriff’s Deputies using fire extinguishers.”

American Legion Ambulance personnel “evaluated the suspect and determined he was deceased. The suspect was ultimately extricated by Jackson Fire Department personnel,” Wegner said. A search of the vehicle revealed that Hoyopatubbi was sitting on a handgun, and had an improvised .12-gauge “zip” gun concealed within one of his pant legs.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.