Two people are in custody in Santa Cruz after a suspected explosive device was found in their vehicle following a traffic stop on Highway 1 Tuesday evening.The vehicle was seen on the right-side shoulder of the freeway passing cars.California Highway Patrol officers made the stop on southbound Highway 1, near the Morrissey Boulevard offramp, at 5:40 p.m.The driver had no registration, and officers determined the vehicle had been reported stolen.A search of the vehicle revealed what officers described as "looking like a homemade device", said CHP Sgt. Troy Vincent.The Santa Cruz County bomb squad was called, and after examination, determined it was possibly an explosive device.Highway 1 was shutdown as a bomb squad detonated the device. The occupants of the vehicle, Lorena Sanchez, 32, and Francisco Valdez, Jr., 33, were taken into custody on suspicion of vehicle theft, possession of stolen property, possession of a destructive device, and drug charges.

Two people are in custody in Santa Cruz after a suspected explosive device was found in their vehicle following a traffic stop on Highway 1 Tuesday evening.

The vehicle was seen on the right-side shoulder of the freeway passing cars.




California Highway Patrol officers made the stop on southbound Highway 1, near the Morrissey Boulevard offramp, at 5:40 p.m.

Lorena Sanchez

The driver had no registration, and officers determined the vehicle had been reported stolen.



A search of the vehicle revealed what officers described as "looking like a homemade device", said CHP Sgt. Troy Vincent.

The Santa Cruz County bomb squad was called, and after examination, determined it was possibly an explosive device.

Francisco Valdez

Highway 1 was shutdown as a bomb squad detonated the device.

The occupants of the vehicle, Lorena Sanchez, 32, and Francisco Valdez, Jr., 33, were taken into custody on suspicion of vehicle theft, possession of stolen property, possession of a destructive device, and drug charges.