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Redding Woman Leads Police On A Chase In A Van Painted Like The Mystery Machine From ‘Scooby Doo’

By Shaunee Flowers
Published on: 12:28 PST, Mar 7, 2016

Police in Redding, California, are searching for a woman who evaded police on Sunday while driving a minivan painted like the Mystery Machine from Scooby Doo. The story seems almost as unbelievable as the report that a Redding woman was able to get away from police who were in pursuit of a woman driving the uniquely painted vehicle. The Mystery Machine minivan has been recovered, but police are still looking for Sharon Kay Turman of Redding, Sgt. Ron Icely said in a news release.

Turman, 51, led police on a high-speed chase through Redding when she was seen at the corner of California and Shasta streets in downtown Redding. According to the Press Democrat, police were in pursuit of the Scooby Doo van, which reached speeds of over 100 mph during the run. A California Highway Patrol helicopter and Shasta County Sheriff’s Deputies chased the woman until law enforcement lost sight of the van, then the chase was called off.

The chase began after Redding police were told that Sharon Kay Turman was wanted for allegedly violating her probation. It was soon after that Turman was spotted in downtown Redding while driving the van. The suspect fled in the Mystery Machine van when police tried to pull her over.

Turman led police on a chase down Highway 273 in the brightly painted van. According to KRCR,the chase stopped at Buenaventura Blvd and Highway 273 but then Turman took off and continued to speed southbound on 273. According to police, Turman drove through an intersection against a red light, hitting four other vehicles.

The CHP helicopter spotted Turman and the Mystery Machine again on Hill Drive, north of Anderson, California, and the chase began again. That’s when police say Turman led officers through Anderson at high speeds before getting on I-5 and continuing south. She was followed by helicopter until Turman exited I-5 onto Highway 36 westbound. The CHP helicopter was able to follow Turman and keep surveillance on the woman. At that point, Turman was seen ditching the highly visible Mystery Machine van before disappearing.

Turman’s vehicle, a 1994 Chrysler Town and Country minivan, was found later in northwestern Tehama County, just south of where Turman ran from police earlier in the day. The Mystery Machine has now been impounded, and the hunt for its very dangerous driver is on.

The story has since gone viral, with outlets like the Daily Mail and New York Daily News covering the case of the runaway Mystery Machine. Of course, the driver definitely doesn’t resemble any of the old Scooby Doo characters, we’re betting she was a huge fan. The fact that Turman was able to allude police long enough to flee to Tehama County and ditch the Mystery Machine van is shocking to many who heard the news.

It seems that the Town and Country minivan with the very unique paint job should have been much easier to follow. How was Turman able to get away long enough to disappear? Police haven’t released any details of their continued search for Turman on Monday, but it’s a pretty safe bet that the fugitive from the law is hiding out somewhere in rural Tehama County.

Sharon Kay Turman’s whereabouts are still unknown. Turman is wanted by the Redding police and Shasta County probation. Anyone with information regarding her whereabouts can call the Redding Police Department at (530) 225-4200 or Secret Witness of Shasta County at (530) 243-2319.

[Photos via Twitter/Shasta County Police Department]

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