2 Killed In San Bernardino Car Crash After High-Speed Pursuit
SAN BERNARDINO (CBSLA.com) — Two people were killed in a crash Monday after a brief high-speed police pursuit in San Bernardino.
The crash occurred around 7:45 a.m. at West Rialto Avenue and Mount Vernon Avenue, according to police.
San Bernardino Police spokesman Rich Lawhead said a sheriff's deputy tried to pull over a black Honda Civic for speeding in the Colton area when the chase began.
As the suspect started going 80 to 100 miles per hour, the deputy decided to pull out of the pursuit near Mill Street and Mount Vernon Avenue in San Bernardino because the driver was going extremely fast, Lawhead said.
A short time later, the suspect's vehicle crashed into a gray Mustang with two occupants. A security camera video shows the moment of impact.
The powerful impact of the crash literally ripped the entire engine out of the Mustang and sent the car through a nearby fence. Both vehicles ended up mangled together against a wall. Pieces of wreckage were scattered all over the road for several blocks.
The driver of the Honda and a passenger in the Mustang were both killed instantly, according to Lawhead.
Sarah Sias said her fiancé, Alex, was the passenger in the Mustang, and he was on his way to work. "He just wanted to make extra money so we could live better. He would do anything for anybody," she said.
Sias said the victim had two kids, was a rapper and dancer. "He loved his city [San Bernardino]. He loved his community. He tried anything to make it better," Sias said as she wept.
"All you heard was like just that loud boom and then something just sliding on the floor. That's probably what all this stuff was, the engine right there," Nicholas Alvarado said.
The Mustang's driver was hospitalized with moderate injuries but was expected to survive.
The driver of the Honda was wanted on a few small warrants. He was also driving with a suspended license.
