A man was arrested early Monday following a high-speed vehicle pursuit that ended in a crash and left a passenger with major injuries, authorities said.

The incident began around 1:43 a.m. when a Visalia police officer attempted to stop a red Mercedes for speeding and running a red light near Noble Avenue and Court Street, according to the Visalia Police Department.

The driver failed to yield and entered Highway 198 before exiting at Ben Maddox Way, where he lost control and crashed into a tree, police said.

The driver fled the scene on foot. Emergency responders evaluated the front-seat passenger, who was not injured. A female passenger in the back seat suffered major injuries and was transported to Kaweah Health.

Due to the location of the crash, the California Highway Patrol is leading the collision investigation.

Officers later found the suspected driver, Ramon Villanueva, 30, hiding in a closet at his home on the 600 block of South Pinkham Street. Villanueva, the registered owner of the Mercedes, had an outstanding warrant for felony evading.

He was booked into the Tulare County Adult Pre-Trial Facility on suspicion of felony DUI, felony hit-and-run, felony evading, resisting arrest, and the outstanding warrant. Police said he is also expected to face a felony domestic violence charge stemming from a separate incident earlier in the day.

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