Long Beach pursuit crash: 1 dead, 8 hospitalized in Seal Beach police chase
A Seal Beach police pursuit ended when the suspect driver collided with another vehicle, causing a multi-car crash in Long Beach that killed a 74-year-old woman Tuesday night.
"Very tragic situation and just incredibly irresponsible and egregious behavior by the suspects to put all of these lives in danger," said Lt. Julia Clasby with the Seal Beach Police Department.
The crash happened at about 8:07 p.m. at the intersection of Pacific Coast Highway and East 2nd Street. Paramedics were on the scene by 8:13 p.m., according to the Long Beach Fire Department.
At least nine cars were involved in the crash. Eight people were hospitalized, including two in the suspect vehicle. A woman in her 60s was pronounced dead at the scene.
Seal Beach police said an officer pulled over a silver 2006 Lexus sedan at 8 p.m. for a traffic violation near Marina Drive and PCH. While the officer was checking the female driver's records, the male passenger allegedly slid into the driver's seat and drove off, and officers initiated the pursuit.
The suspect drove north in southbound lanes before crashing into eight other vehicles, police said. One witness estimated the suspect vehicle may have been traveling about 80 mph. Rescuers had to use extraction tools to get some victims out of their vehicles.
The suspect tried to run away from police but an officer used a Taser on him and he was apprehended.
The suspect was identified as 39-year-old Antioch resident Chaz Lamar Long. Police said he was wanted on an outstanding federal no-bail warrant for weapons violations.
According to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Long was charged with multiple drug and firearms charges in 2006. He was released on parole in 2010. A year later he was incarcerated for a drug charge.
Two others in the suspect's car -- the female passenger and an infant -- were both hospitalized.
The scene was cleared early Wednesday morning and the intersection was reopened. The conditions of the hospitalized victims were not immediately released.
