Amador County -- Amador County authorities were investigating a fatal end to a vehicle pursuit, and incidents leading up to it, after a man died early Tuesday morning after crashing into a bridge structure on Highway 88 near Broadway.

Amador County Undersheriff Jim Wegner in a release Tuesday said the pursuit lasted about 25 minutes, covering just under 25 miles, and at times reached speeds in excess of 100 mph. The CHP Major Accident Investigation Team is conducting the vehicle pursuit and accident investigation. The Amador County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office is conducting the crime and death investigation.

An Amador County Sheriff’s Department deputy started the pursuit, and CHP Amador Unit in a release said CHP officers were requested to assist, at about 12:09 a.m. “CHP officers assumed primary control of the pursuit, as a coordinated operation between law enforcement agencies. During the pursuit, information was developed that the vehicle had been stolen by force from a female driver. The male suspect had pushed the female victim out of the vehicle prior to CHP involvement.”

Wegner in the ACSO release said “the female that was pushed from the vehicle was uninjured and was cooperative with the investigation. She reported that she had just met the individual earlier that day in Stockton, they had used methamphetamine together and were traveling to the Jackson Rancheria Casino. She reported that upon seeing the Amador County Sheriff’s Unit, the male suspect became nervous and would not allow her to stop the car,” and “ultimately pushed her out of the vehicle as it was traveling east bound on Highway 88.”

CHP said the vehicle, a white Saturn sedan, drove over several roads through the county and the city of Jackson. “As the vehicle was traveling westbound on State Route 88, heading back into … Jackson, CHP aircraft arrived overhead and began coordinating ground resources.”

CHP said “pursuing officers were able to allow the suspect vehicle out of their sight in hopes he would slow down.” A Sheriff’s Deputy “was on a concrete bridge driveway, just north of the roadway, positioned to deploy a spike strip if needed. As the suspect vehicle approached the deputy’s location, it left the roadway and collided with the bridge structure.”

The suspect, identified as Joshua Wash Hoyopatubbi, 32, of Stockton, was determined to be deceased. The autopsy to determine his cause of death is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 22.

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