BUTTE COUNTY, CA (MPG) - Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey announced an Oakland man pleaded guilty for a deadly high-speed 15-mile chase that happened on July 30, 2020.

David Lee Survine Jr., 31, pleaded guilty in Butte County Superior Court this morning to Evading the Police Causing Death.

Ramsey said the chase started when the California Highway Patrol attempted to stop Survine for speeding on eastbound Highway 162 near the intersection with Aguas Frias Road in southern Butte County.  A CHP Sergeant on patrol clocked Survine’s vehicle at 85 mph in a 55 mph zone. When the Sergeant activated his emergency lighting to initiate a traffic stop Survine accelerated to over 100 mph.  Survine continued eastbound on Highway 162 to its intersection with Highway 99.  Survine failed to stop at the stop sign at the intersection, turned northbound onto Highway 99, and further accelerated to over 130 mph. 

Ramsey said while driving northbound on Highway 99, Survine used both the southbound lane and the shoulder to pass slower northbound vehicles, forcing multiple vehicles to take evasive action to avoid collision.  Because of Survine’s extremely dangerous driving, CHP positioned an officer with a spike strip near the intersection of Highway 99 and Nelson Rd.  As Survine approached the officer’s location, the officer’s radar clocked Survine at 131 mph.   As the officer deployed the spike strip Survine swerved to the right in an apparent attempt to avoid the spike strip.  Despite the swerve, the front driver’s side tire of Survine’s vehicle hit the spike strip.

Ramsey said approximately a quarter mile after hitting the spike strip, Survine lost control of the vehicle and flipped several times.  The vehicle came to rest off the southbound shoulder of Highway 99. The wreck caused a dust cloud that obscured vision of the wreckage for several minutes. When CHP officers arrived at the wreck, they found the body of Kristen Jones, 39, of Rialto near the wreckage.  Jones had been ejected from the vehicle during the crash.  Jones was pronounced dead at the scene.  Survine was not immediately located anyway around the crash scene. 

Approximately two and half-hours later, a motorist contacted CHP to report an injured male laying on Nelson Rd approximately a half mile east of Highway 99.  CHP officers responded and found Survine.  Survine had visible injuries, which identified him as the driver of the vehicle. He was arrested and transported to Enloe Hospital. 

While at Enloe Hospital, Survine admitted to driving the vehicle and identified Jones as his girlfriend.  Survine told CHP officers he and Jones had left Oakland earlier in the day and were in route to stay with family in Oroville. Survine admitted knowing that the vehicle he was driving was stolen.  Survine also admitted he knew he was being pursued by CHP.  Survine stated he believed if he drove fast enough, CHP could no longer pursue him. 

Ramsey said Survine will be sentenced on November 5, 2020.  Survine faces up to 10 years in state prison based upon his plea.