La Mesa

A Navy man died late Friday night when his motorcycle slammed into the back of a California Highway Patrol car while involved in a high-speed chase with another CHP car on California 125 in La Mesa, a department spokeswoman said.

Robert Paul Arnold, 18, died when his motorcycle hit the CHP car that was not involved in the chase. He was thrown from the bike and struck by the CHP car pursuing him, the spokeswoman said. None of the officers was injured.

The chase began on westbound Interstate 8 in El Cajon about 11:15 p.m., when Arnold sped past a CHP car, which gave chase at speeds of 100 miles an hour or more, authorities said. It continued onto southbound California 125 before the accident occurred near the Spring Street exit.

Arnold was a petty officer third class assigned to the Naval Training Center.