Motorcyclist in High-Speed Chase ID'd

The motorcyclist who led police on a high-speed pursuit through three counties Thursday night was identified as a 34-year-old man with a prior DUI conviction, police said.

Jose E. Melhado faces felony evading and DUI charges in connection with his nighttime ride from Los Angeles County to Riverside County Thursday night, said Sgt. Ed Moran, of the California Highway Patrol.

Melhado has a prior DUI conviction from 2012, the CHP said. He was fleeing because he didn't want to get caught again with another DUI, according to the CHP.

Melhado claims to be the president of a local motorcycle club, Moran said.

The pursuit ended when Melhado ran out of gas along the eastbound 91 Freeway in Corona.

Melhado was initially spotted riding 90 mph in a carpool lane. When an officer tried to stop him and he wouldn’t pull over, the pursuit began.

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