Solano County Freeway Chase Ends In Fiery Crash: CHP

SOLANO COUNTY, CA — A Placer County man is facing felony charges in connection with a freeway chase Friday on Interstate Highway 80 in Dixon, the California Highway Patrol said.

Just after 5 p.m. Friday, Solano Area CHP Officer Scott Heitman was driving eastbound on I-80, just east of Pitt School Road, in heavy stop-and-go traffic when he saw a gray Ford F150 pickup truck pass him going 60 mph on the right shoulder, CHP Spokesman David Harvey said.

Heitman positioned his patrol car behind the F150 and turned on his lights and sirens to make a traffic stop, but the driver, later identified as Roderick Westin, of Lincoln, did not stop, Harvey said.

Instead, Westin "rapidly accelerated while using the right shoulder," Harvey said.

"Traffic on the freeway decreased and Officer Heitman used the #1 lane (fast lane) to track the Ford," Harvey said. "The Ford accelerated to an estimated 85 miles per hour when the driver intentionally (later verified by the driver’s statement and video recording) drove across the grass shoulder and collided with a large tree."

As the truck hit the tree, it immediately burst into flames, Harvey said.

Heitman used his fire extinguisher, and with the help of an off-duty California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Officer, rescued the combative driver from the burning pickup truck, Harvey said.

Westin suffered major injuries in the incident and was taken to a nearby Kaiser Permanente medical center.

"The driver will be receiving care for his personal well being prior to release from Kaiser Permanente," Harvey said. "Felony charges for evading arrest in a reckless manner have been filed with the Solano County District Attorney’s Office.."