High-speed police chase leaves 1 dead in North Bay

SANTA ROSA, Calif (KGO) -- Maclovio Romero, a 19-year-old man from Hopland, California, is dead after a high speed chase with police in the North Bay.

It began early Sunday morning when a Santa Rosa police officer tried to stop the speeding car.

The wreckage of the Toyota Avalon was hauled away from the scene of early in the morning following the crash.

The chase prompted a large police response. The sound of the impact woke some nearby neighbors.

"When I looked out the door I saw a police unit, I said don't worry about it. There's a police car already here," said Lisa Santana, who lives nearb y.

The CHP says the car was seen speeding through the city's west side.

"A Santa Rosa Police Department unit observed the car, attempted to make an enforcement stop and a short pursuit ensued," said CHP Sgt. Andrew Henkens.

Police say the pursuit reached 80 mph and eventually slammed into a concrete barrier and overturned into a field.

His family says he was Native American - a member of the Pomo Indians. Two other people in the car suffered critical injuries.

Police don't know who was driving, why the car was speeding or if drugs or alcohol played a role.

The pursuing officer was not injured.