CRIMINAL GENIUS: Man driving chemical and radioactive waste company’s stolen 18-wheeler leads California police on hours-long highway chase.

The pursuit started in Apple Valley, northeast of Los Angeles, around 10:30 a.m., according to the California Highway Patrol.

The man, identified as James Edgely, 48, was driving the stolen tractor-trailer solo and told authorities he was unarmed and did not want to go to jail.

Maybe he should have thought of that before stealing a truck from a chemical and radioactive waste company.