A 17-year-old was cited for reckless driving after being observed by Modesto police racing another vehicle and reaching a speed of 92 mph in a 35-mph zone, according to the Modesto Police Department. The incident occurred last week when a traffic officer saw two cars racing on a city street. The teen, who did not have a driver’s license, was stopped and his vehicle was towed.
Police released body-camera footage of the stop and the officer’s interaction with the driver. In a statement posted on social media, police said: “That speed isn’t ‘pushing it’ or ‘showing off.’ It’s life-changing danger for the driver, their passengers, and everyone else on the road.”
The department emphasized that its traffic unit regularly patrols for dangerous driving behaviors such as street racing because officers “see firsthand what happens when things go wrong.” Police urged young drivers to make safer choices and reminded all motorists to slow down. “Your life, and someone else’s, depends on it,” the post said.
Authorities did not release the name of the minor involved.
In another recent case involving excessive speed in Modesto, the California Highway Patrol reported stopping a newly purchased Ford Mustang traveling at 139 mph on Highway 99. According to CHP, an officer entering southbound Highway 99 at Kiernan Avenue observed the car speeding just after 7 p.m. Wednesday. The vehicle was recorded at 139 mph as it passed other motorists before being stopped by law enforcement.
CHP stated in a Facebook post: “The Mustang was caught on radar at 139 MPH as its driver recklessly passed other motorists. An enforcement stop was conducted and the driver was placed under arrest. Their vehicle, which was allegedly purchased one hour before, was impounded.”
Officer Tom Olsen told The Bee that Leonardo Gonzalez, age 20 from Delano, was booked on a misdemeanor charge of reckless driving.
“The CHP will take all measures to remove these reckless drivers from our roadways,” according to CHP’s Facebook post. “They pose a great risk to themselves and everyone they share the roadway with.”
