2 Seized in Chase, Clash With CHP Officers; Fire Destroys Car

Two men were arrested this morning after they led police on a chase at speeds of 120 m.p.h. along the San Diego Freeway that ended in Irvine in a fight with police and the destruction of their sports car.

Masaaki Tachiki, 22, and Kinichi Nikashimi, 19, both of Northridge, were arrested at about 1:30 this morning and booked into Orange County Jail on suspicion of evading arrest and assaulting two police officers, California Highway Patrol Officer Angel Johnson said.

Johnson said that the two Japanese nationals were spotted by two CHP officers at 1:15 a.m., speeding southbound along Interstate 405 near the Euclid Street off-ramp in Fountain Valley at speeds of up to 120 m.p.h.

The two officers gave chase. As the car neared heavy traffic, the driver veered their Pontiac Trans Am sports car onto the right shoulder to pass slower-moving cars. They left the freeway at Irvine Center Drive and the car spun out of control, Johnson said. When the officers pulled up behind the stopped car, two men jumped out of the Trans Am and started to fight the officers, but were subdued, Johnson said.

Suddenly, while the four stood alongside the cars, the Trans Am burst into flames. The car was destroyed, despite efforts by the two officers to save it.