A California woman is facing multiple charges after allegedly leading police on a highway chase with two children in her vehicle, culminating in a crash into a guardrail. Brooke Smith, 41, was arrested Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, in Fresno.
Police initially sought Smith following a crash near Shields and Fowler avenues around 6:07 p.m. According to the Fresno Police Department, officers later spotted her vehicle traveling west on Highway 180. A police helicopter tracked the car from overhead, reporting that it was speeding, driving on the shoulder, tailgating, and sideswiping another vehicle.
The pursuit concluded when Smith crashed into a guardrail near the Blackstone and Abby Avenue exit. One of the juvenile passengers exited the vehicle and approached an officer for assistance. This child sustained visible head injuries, while the second juvenile complained of pain resulting from the crash.
Smith reportedly displayed signs of impairment, with officers noting she smelled of alcohol, slurred her speech, and had difficulty standing. It is not known what relationship Smith had to the children. She was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, reckless driving, hit-and-run, and felony child endangerment. She was booked into the Fresno County Jail.