High-Speed Chase Ends in Multi-Vehicle Crash in Midland
A high-speed pursuit that ended in a multi-vehicle crash has led to the arrest of a man in Midland. The incident, which occurred on Thursday, involved a Chevrolet Silverado that was reportedly stolen and driven at dangerously high speeds through the city.
The chase began around 4:39 p.m. when a state trooper attempted to pull over the vehicle for speeding. According to an affidavit, the driver, later identified as Roberto Gutierrez-Figueroa, was clocked going 80 miles per hour in a 65 mph zone using the trooper’s front-moving radar. When the officer activated his emergency lights to initiate a traffic stop, Gutierrez-Figueroa allegedly accelerated and tried to flee.
Despite the trooper changing siren tones in an attempt to get his attention, Gutierrez-Figueroa continued to evade law enforcement at high speeds. Authorities say he ran multiple red lights, disregarded traffic control devices, and drove recklessly with no regard for other drivers.
The pursuit continued westbound on Interstate 20, where the suspect reportedly reached speeds of up to 100 miles per hour. At several points during the chase, the vehicle was recorded hitting 97 mph. Troopers lost visual contact with the Silverado but later spotted the vehicle exiting at Lamesa Road. Authorities say Gutierrez-Figueroa continued at a high rate of speed, even driving into oncoming traffic on the access road.
According to the affidavit, he then turned north onto Rankin Highway, where he sideswiped a vehicle stopped at a red light. A second trooper took the lead in the pursuit as the suspect continued driving at high speed, still ignoring traffic signals. Troopers eventually backed off the pursuit as the suspect approached the Midland city limits.
Gutierrez-Figueroa then continued north on Big Spring Street, where he collided with three vehicles stopped at a red light. Authorities say the crash caused the Silverado to come to a stop, but Gutierrez-Figueroa fled on foot. He was later apprehended and placed under arrest.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, the truck had been reported stolen from a man’s front yard. The owner was in the process of reporting it stolen at the time of the incident.
Troopers say Gutierrez-Figueroa was placed in the front seat of a patrol car and seat-belted in to be taken to Midland Memorial Hospital, where he was read his Miranda rights. At the hospital, troopers also spoke with one of the innocent drivers involved in the crash. That driver reported severe injuries, including extreme back and neck pain, major trauma to the left leg, and lacerations on the hands and arms.
Gutierrez-Figueroa was medically cleared and taken to the Midland County Detention Center. Immigration authorities confirmed he is an undocumented immigrant from Venezuela and have placed a hold on him for possible deportation.
He currently remains in the Midland County Detention Center on a combined $77,500 bond, according to jail records. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by reckless driving and the importance of law enforcement efforts to ensure public safety.
