A 28-year-old man was arrested by the Turlock Police Department after leading officers on a vehicle pursuit and then trying to make his final bid for freedom by jumping out of the still moving car.

Just after midnight Monday a Turlock Police officer spotted a 1990s model Honda with an obscured license plate number.  

The officer initiated a traffic stop in the area of Brookstone Drive and Monte Vista Avenue, but the driver did not pull the vehicle over until reaching N. Quincy Road and Monte Vista Avenue.

A check of the license plate revealed the car to be stolen and as the officer was approaching the driver’s side door, the driver, later identified as Nicholas Hays, put the vehicle into drive and sped off.

The pursuit hit speeds of up to 90 mph as it entered into Denair, said Turlock Police spokesperson Officer Mayra Lewis.

The vehicle began to slow down drastically, which is when Hays jumped out and attempted to make his escape on foot. The attempt was short-lived as other officers who had joined in the pursuit apprehended him in the area.

The car continued until it struck a pole and came to a stop.

There were no reported injuries from the incident.

Hays was arrested on suspicion of felony evading, hit and run, auto theft, possession of burglary tools and possession of methamphetamine.