Fullerton police chase ends in violent multi-vehicle crash, innocent driver killed
FULLERTON, Calif. - A police chase in Fullerton ended in a fatal multi-vehicle crash, police said.
Officers with the Fullerton Police Department were in pursuit of a theft suspect Wednesday afternoon at North Gilbert Street and West Malvern Avenue after a detective witnessed a theft.
The suspect, who got into a white Nissan Rogue, left the area and refused to stop when police attempted to pull him over, police said. The car was involved in a non-injury hit and run collision near Brookhurst Road and Orangethrope Avenue, but the pursuit continued on the 91 (Riverside) Freeway west, police said.
The driver got off at Knox Avenue, where Fullerton police lost sight of the Nissan.
Buena Park police tracked down the suspect's vehicle, but officers there also lost sight of it, police said.
La Palma police joined the pursuit near La Palma Avenue and Walker Street, but the chase ended at La Palma Avenue and Moody Street, where the driver crashed into a BMW, police said.
The BMW driver, a woman in her 60s, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Two men and a woman injured in the crash were taken to an area hospital, said Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Thanh Nguyen.
The suspect was identified as 43-year-old Anthony Hanzal of Anaheim, who was one of the injured taken to a hospital, police said.