Iowa State Patrol troopers pursued in a car at 125 mph after recognizing the vehicle as one that was stolen and connected to a death investigation, according to court documents. On Friday at approximately 9 a.m., authorities began pursuing a red 2015 Honda Civic with personalized plates when the driver, Joey Vazquez, 35, refused to pull over. The Honda was being pursued by officers from the West Des Moines Police Department as it was registered as a stolen vehicle in connection with a death investigation, according to the criminal complaint. Police have confirmed the death was not suspicious. The vehicle exited I-35 northbound at Oralabor Road, ran a stop sign and headed eastbound on Northeast 78th Avenue. Vazquez accelerated to 125 mph in a 55 mph zone. According to documents, he swerved into westbound lanes when driving eastbound into oncoming traffic multiple times during the pursuit. Entering the city of Bondurant, Vazquez was driving 95 mph in a 25 mph zone. He attempted to turn northbound onto Highway 65 when he lost control of the vehicle and ran into the grass median.Vazquez was taken into custody. Test results showed he had injected methamphetamine, consumed bath salts and smoked marijuana. He was charged with operating while intoxicated, driving while his license was denied, driving while his license was under suspension, eluding, driving on the wrong side of a two-way highway, failure to obey a traffic control device, failure to obey a stop or yield sign, failure to maintain control, speeding and third-degree theft. Vasquez is being held in the Polk County Jail on $100,000 bail. Court records show Vasquez eluded police through the Des Moines area in another stolen car chase in February.

Iowa State Patrol troopers pursued in a car at 125 mph after recognizing the vehicle as one that was stolen and connected to a death investigation, according to court documents.

On Friday at approximately 9 a.m., authorities began pursuing a red 2015 Honda Civic with personalized plates when the driver, Joey Vazquez, 35, refused to pull over.


The Honda was being pursued by officers from the West Des Moines Police Department as it was registered as a stolen vehicle in connection with a death investigation, according to the criminal complaint. Police have confirmed the death was not suspicious.

The vehicle exited I-35 northbound at Oralabor Road, ran a stop sign and headed eastbound on Northeast 78th Avenue. Vazquez accelerated to 125 mph in a 55 mph zone.

According to documents, he swerved into westbound lanes when driving eastbound into oncoming traffic multiple times during the pursuit.

Entering the city of Bondurant, Vazquez was driving 95 mph in a 25 mph zone. He attempted to turn northbound onto Highway 65 when he lost control of the vehicle and ran into the grass median.

Vazquez was taken into custody. Test results showed he had injected methamphetamine, consumed bath salts and smoked marijuana.

He was charged with operating while intoxicated, driving while his license was denied, driving while his license was under suspension, eluding, driving on the wrong side of a two-way highway, failure to obey a traffic control device, failure to obey a stop or yield sign, failure to maintain control, speeding and third-degree theft.

Vasquez is being held in the Polk County Jail on $100,000 bail.

Court records show Vasquez eluded police through the Des Moines area in another stolen car chase in February.