What could have been a simple traffic stop for not having a license plate turned into a high speed chase that came to an abrupt end when the suspect crashed down an embankment.

A Turlock police officer spotted the Range Rover, minus a license plate, just after 12:30 a.m. on Monday in the area of S. Golden State Boulevard and F Street.

The officer attempted a traffic stop but the driver, later identified as Dominic Gumiran, 34, sped off instead.

A pursuit was initiated and wound its way to Highway 99, said Turlock Police spokesman Sgt. Michael Parmley.

Gumiran took the exit at Bradbury Road, which is where things went awry.

“The vehicle reached the top of the off-ramp, but was traveling too fast to make the turn and continued straight off the westside of the embankment on the southside of Bradbury Road,” Parmley said. “The embankment has an approximately 20-foot drop and the vehicle collided front end first and came to a rest on the driver side.”

Officers had to break the sunroof to remove Gumiran to provide medical treatment.  He was transported to a local area hospital for treatment and was booked into Stanislaus County Jail for felony evading. Officers from the California Highway Patrol responded and handled the traffic collision investigation.