130 mph highway chase ends with driver’s arrest

Police tracked car with helicopter after it drove off into city streets

A car chase Tuesday night on Interstate 680 topped speeds of 130 mph, prompting the arrest of the driver after San Jose police tracked the vehicle with a helicopter, officials said.

The episode began around 11:30 p.m. when California Highway Patrol officers noticed a white Dodge Challenger driving with a paper license plate on southbound Interstate 280 past the Highway 87 interchange, said Officer Ross Lee.

Just north of 10th Street, officers tried to pull over the vehicle, Lee said, but it veered away and quickly accelerated beyond 130 mph.

Surrounding traffic was light, so CHP officers followed the vehicle as it continued onto I-680, Lee said.

But officers called off the chase when the car exited onto San Jose city streets at Berryessa Road.

In the meantime, San Jose police tracked the Challenger with a helicopter as it turned right onto Capitol Avenue, said San Jose Police Department Sgt. Enrique Garcia.

When the Challenger reached Capitol and McKee Road, a CHP vehicle caught up with it and attempted to block the roadway — only to have the Challenger swerve around the car.

At that point, the CHP vehicle rammed the Challenger to force it to stop, Lee said.

The driver, identified as Gilroy resident Brian Macias, 21, was arrested on suspicion of reckless driving and booked into Santa Clara County jail overnight, according to records.

He remains in custody in lieu of $31,000 bail.