Police: Thought to be buyer, suspect in Modesto chase stole car

A man who led California Highway Patrol officers on a pursuit through Modesto streets is recovering from major injuries at a local hospital Thursday.

The incident started at about 9:30 p.m. Wednesday in the 3600 block of Kansas Avenue in Riverbank where the owner of a Ford Mustang was meeting with a man he thought was interested in buying his car, according to Riverbank Chief Bill Pooley.

The prospective buyer turned out to be a parolee who was only interested in a joy ride.

The suspect jumped in the Mustang and headed south on Terminal Avenue. The owner of the Mustang got into a different car and followed the suspect, according to CHP officer Jonathan Peregoy.

At 9:41 p.m. CHP officers were told to be on the lookout for a stolen Ford Mustang. Dispatchers on the phone with the owner of the Mustang told him to stop following the suspect, who was last seen by the owner just outside of Modesto at Claus Road and Terminal Avenue.

Five minutes later, officers caught up with the suspect on Claus north of Orangeburg Avenue and a pursuit began.

Peregoy said the pursuit traversed several city streets, at which point Modesto Police Department officers joined the chase.

As the suspect was traveling west on Scenic Drive east of Oakdale road he crashed into a large water main. The Mustang caught fire and the suspect was ejected from the vehicle, Peregoy said.

Just before 10 p.m. he was taken into custody at gunpoint in a pool of water that had formed around the broken water main.

The suspect was identified as Ryan Vanostrand, 28, of Hughson.

Due to the major injuries Vanostrand sustained in the accident he was transported to a local hospital.

Once Vanostrand has healed, Peregoy said he will be booked into Stanislaus County Jail and likely face charges of vehicle theft and reckless fleeing from an officer.

Bee staff writer Erin Tracy can be reached at etracy@modbee.com or (209) 578-2366.

See video from the crash scene below

This story was originally published November 3, 2011 at 10:20 PM with the headline "Police: Thought to be buyer, suspect in Modesto chase stole car."