Diabetic man unknowingly leads police on 36-mile pursuit

An 81 year-old man had a diabetic reaction while driving eastbound on I-10 Wednesday afternoon. Officers began chasing him because they thought he was drunk due to his erratic driving.

According to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, the man had the reaction in Calimesa and said he didn’t realize police were pursuing him. It wasn’t until he was nearing Palm Springs, about 36-miles into the pursuit, before officers were able to talk to him.

Authorities put down a spike strip on the interstate about two miles west of Indian Canyon Drive. The man’s tires were flattened by the spikes and he pulled over, just thinking something was wrong with his vehicle, according to the sheriff’s department.

The elderly man was taken to Desert Regional Medical Center and officers said no charges have been filed against him. He’s expected to be okay following the diabetic reaction.

Nobody was injured during the police chase.