Fresno woman arrested after hit-and-run and highway chase

A 41-year-old woman, Brooke Smith, was arrested in Fresno, California, following a hit-and-run crash, a high-speed police chase, and a subsequent collision with a guardrail on Highway 180.

The incident began around 6:07 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 29, near the intersection of Shields and Fowler avenues. After an initial collision, Smith allegedly fled the scene with two juveniles in her vehicle. A Fresno police helicopter tracked the vehicle as it traveled west on Highway 180, observing the driver speeding, driving on the shoulder, tailgating, and sideswiping another vehicle.

The pursuit ended when the vehicle crashed into a guardrail near the Blackstone and Abby Avenue exit. Following the impact, one juvenile passenger fled the vehicle to seek help from an officer, presenting with visible head injuries, while a second juvenile reported pain from the crash.

Police reported that Smith showed signs of impairment, including slurred speech and difficulty standing. She was booked into the Fresno County Jail on suspicion of DUI involving drugs and alcohol, reckless driving, hit-and-run, and felony child endangerment.