A high-speed police pursuit ended in a fiery crash that killed two men early Tuesday morning March 31, 2026 near the main gate of Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California. Napa County sheriff’s deputies had stopped a Mercedes-Benz along Highway 12 east of Highway 29 just after midnight.
The driver and passenger fled the stop reaching speeds of up to 120 mph before the vehicle crashed into the visitor center parking lot and became engulfed in flames. Fire personnel from Travis Air Force Base and Solano County were unable to extinguish the fire in time and both occupants were pronounced dead at the scene. The crash closed the main gate and surrounding roads for several hours as investigators examined the wreckage.
The fatalities were identified as John Newton III of Sacramento, 28, who was driving, and Taevion Knox, 30, of Oroville, who was in the passenger seat. During the chase, which started in Napa County, moved into Solano County, and ended at the gate to Travis Air Force Base, Knox was a passenger in the Mercedes.
Both men were declared dead at the scene after the car burst into flames near the visitor center. No other injuries were reported from the crash that occurred in this heavily trafficked area near the military base in Fairfield.
The pursuit started when deputies attempted to stop the Mercedes for a traffic violation on Highway 12. The vehicle refused to stop leading to a chase that lasted approximately 15 minutes. The driver lost control near the base entrance causing the Mercedes to crash and ignite. Solano County officials confirmed the vehicle reached high speeds before the fatal impact at the Travis Air Force Base visitor center parking lot. The incident remains under investigation by the Solano County District Attorney’s Major Crimes Task Force.
The crash has drawn attention in the Fairfield and broader Solano County community where residents expressed concern over the dangers of high-speed pursuits near populated areas like Travis Air Force Base. Family and friends of the victims have been notified and the community has begun offering support as they process the sudden loss. The location near the main gate of the base is a busy entry point for military personnel and visitors making the tragedy particularly impactful in this part of northern California.
The Napa County Sheriff’s Office and Solano County authorities are collaborating on the investigation into the pursuit and crash on Highway 12 that ended at the Travis Air Force Base visitor center. No charges have been filed as both occupants died in the incident. Officials have not released additional details on the initial stop or contributing factors while the probe continues. The case is being reviewed for any policy or procedural questions related to the pursuit.
Anyone with information or dashcam footage from Highway 12 or the Travis Air Force Base area around the time of the crash is urged to contact the Solano County District Attorney’s Major Crimes Task Force. The investigation remains active as authorities work to provide clarity for the families of Taevion Knox and John Newton III following the fatal incident in Fairfield California. The community continues to reflect on the risks of high-speed pursuits in the region.
