1 dead, 3 injured following high-speed chase in Orange County
One person was killed and another was critically injured after a high-speed chase in Orange County that ended early Sunday in a fiery crash, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The incident began about 1:30 a.m. when a CHP officer tried to stop the driver of a black Honda Accord who was speeding on the northbound 5 Freeway in Orange, CHP Officer Tino Olivera said. The motorist did not stop, and a pursuit began, Olivera said.
The Accord exited the freeway at Chapman Avenue and spun out of control, Olivera said. As the driver regained control of the car near the bottom of the off-ramp, he hit a black Toyota Camry, but did not stop, Olivera said. The driver of the Camry was uninjured.
The chase continued westbound on Chapman Avenue into Garden Grove, and, as the Accord approached Gail Lane, the driver lost control of the car and collided with a light pole, Olivera said. The car caught fire, and authorities were able to remove the driver and two passengers from the car before it became fully engulfed in flames, Olivera said.
But one man who remained in the car died at the scene, Olivera said. A female passenger was transported to the hospital with “major injuries,” he said. The male driver suffered “moderate-to-major injuries” and another male passenger suffered minor injuries, Olivera added.
The driver has been arrested on suspicion of felony evasion and hit-and-run, Olivera said. Authorities are investigating whether he was under the influence of alcohol.
Olivera could not immediately identify any of the drivers or passengers involved.
The entire chase lasted less than three minutes, Olivera said.
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