Police Pursuit In OC Ends In Collision With Big Rig Carrying Jet Fuel, Attempted Carjackings
IRVINE (CBSLA) — A late-night pursuit in Orange County ended in a powerful collision with a big rig and several attempted carjackings by one of the group of known gang members in the vehicle.
Santa Ana police officers tried to pull over the possibly stolen vehicle for traffic violation sometime after 11 p.m. Thursday, CBS News reported.
The California Highway Patrol resumed the chased after the driver of the vehicle got on the freeway around 11:30 p.m., temporarily entering the recently opened 73 toll road in Orange County.
At about 11:45 when the pursuit made it back onto surface streets, the vehicle collided with a big rig truck at the intersection of Paularino Avenue and Bristol Street in Costa Mesa.
One passenger exited the vehicle and twice attempted to carjack nearby vehicles. After failing, the passenger attempted to flee before being quickly apprehended by police.
Three people in total were taken into police custody.
The men were identified as driver Alexander Angel Garcia, 18, and passengers Fernando Sandoval, 21, and Jonathan Angel Quintero, 18, reported CBS News. They are all known gang members, Santa Ana Police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said. They all face charges of attempted carjacking, felony evading, hit and run with property damage, participating in a criminal street gang, committing a felony to benefit a criminal street gang and obstructing a police officer.
One suspect was taken to the hospital for his injuries.
The driver of the truck was uninjured, said CBS News.
The CBS2 News crew on the ground reported the truck was carrying jet fuel to John Wayne Airport.
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