UPDATE, 2:15 a.m.: The truck found in the orchard was, in fact, the truck that ran from the police, Lt. Hanson tells the Outpost. The CHP is on its way to recover the truck, and Hanson said that a fingerprint has been recovered.

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UPDATE, 1:37 p.m.: Lt. Hanson tells the Outpostthat the vehicle may have been found abandoned in an apple orchard out 36. Deputies are on their way to investigate. The truck was registered in Oregon bu reported stolen out of Humboldt County, Hanson says. If you know someone whose gray Toyota — Oregon license plate 200EMU — was stolen, you might want to let them know to give the Sheriff’s Office a call.

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Lost Coast Outpost readers are telling us about a dramatic high-speed chase through the Eel River Valley and out Highway 36 just about 45 minutes ago. One reader says that he nearly went head-on into the fleeing vehicle — a gray Toyota pickup — on Rohnerville Road, and saw another car nearly do the same.

Lt. Wayne Hanson of the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office confirms that his office had chased the pickup, which had been reported stolen out of Oregon, until the office gave up pursuit out of safety concerns. He promised more information soon.

Scanner audio from the time indicates that a Sheriff’s deputy had attempted to stop the pickup for excessive speed near Fernbridge. The suspect ran, at which point it was determined that the vehicle was stolen. Eventually the CHP and the Fortuna Police Department were called in to assist in the chase, as it wound onto 101, down Riverwalk, up Rohnerville Road, through downtown Hydesville (at 80 mph!) and onto 36.

Pretty dramatic audio. Give it a listen. It starts at about 12:45 p.m.:

chase