Wanted inmate and his girlfriend arrested after car crash in Madera County, deputies say

MADERA COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- A wanted inmate and his girlfriend were arrested after a car crash in Madera County on Friday.

The Madera County Sheriff's Office says the court had given 30-year-old Michael Sanchez a one-day pass to go to his grandmother's funeral in Salinas on Wednesday.

Officials say Sanchez, who is serving a two-year sentence for charges including domestic violence and criminal threats, had never returned to custody.

Around 11 a.m. Friday, deputies say they saw Sanchez's girlfriend, 29-year-old Marie Cruz Perez, pick him up from an orchard along Avenue 23.

Deputies tried to pin the car when Cruz Perez pulled over to switch seats with Sanchez, but say he crashed into their patrol vehicles and sped away.

Sanchez had three young children in the vehicle, so they decided not to chase him.

He came to a stop on his own after crashing into another car near Avenue 7 and Road 23.

After the crash, officials say Sanchez got out of the car and ran away, but they were able to track him from above with a helicopter.

Sanchez was arrested within 30 minutes and is facing charges of felony hit-and-run, assault with a deadly weapon, and felony child endangerment.

Cruz Perez, who stayed at the scene, was taken into custody on charges of felony endangerment and accessory.

The children who were in the vehicle with Sanchez were taken into protective custody by Child Protective Services.