A 24-year-old Centennial man has been sentenced to five years in prison after a January car chase that tore through Castle Pines, Highlands Ranch and Littleton at speeds topping 100 mph, ending with deputies finding him hiding beneath a porch wearing only his underwear. Zakary Dean Hirschfield pleaded guilty to felony eluding a peace officer in connection with the pursuit.
The chase began when a Douglas County sheriff’s deputy pulled Hirschfield over for speeding in Castle Pines, according to the Denver Gazette. Instead of stopping, authorities said Hirschfield accelerated and drove his vehicle toward the deputy, who had to jump out of the way to avoid being struck.
From there, authorities said Hirschfield fled through Highlands Ranch and Littleton, reaching speeds of more than 100 mph. Investigators said he crossed medians and drove into oncoming traffic before crashing into another vehicle and fleeing on foot. A passenger in Hirschfield’s car later told deputies she had repeatedly pleaded with him to stop.
An Hour-Long Manhunt Ends Under a Porch
Authorities launched an extensive search involving deputies, specialized units and aerial resources after the crash. About an hour after the initial traffic stop, deputies located Hirschfield hiding beneath a porch, wearing only his underwear. A search of his vehicle turned up cocaine and drug paraphernalia, according to the same report…