Teen Remembered Following Fatal Crash
SAN JOSE, Calif. (KCBS) Flowers have been placed at a San Jose intersection following a horrific accident Tuesday afternoon that claimed the life of a 15-year-old girl.
She died after the car she was riding in was struck by a driver fleeing the California Highway Patrol.
The pursuit began around 4 p.m. on Tuesday when authorities said 24-year-old Bernadino Cuevas failed to stop after making an illegal turn.
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He allegedly ran through a red light at 10th and San Fernando streets, broadsiding a Mitsubishi Mirage that was carrying the 15-year-old, her 6-year-old sister, 12-year-old brother and their 35-year-old mother.
The girl, who suffered serious injuries after being thrown from the vehicle, died on Wednesday.[pullquote quote="For the California Highway Patrol, our pursuits are continuously monitored by a supervisor." credit="CHP Sergeant Trent Cross"]
San Jose police spokesman Jose Garcia said the driver who was being pursued was a wanted man.
"The investigation revealed that he had an outstanding felony no-bail warrant for his arrest because he was a parolee and apparently he had violated his terms and conditions, which resulted in that warrant," said Garcia.
California Highway Patrol spokesman Sergeant Trent Cross defended the CHP's pursuit policy.
"For the California Highway Patrol, our pursuits are continuously monitored by a supervisor," said Cross. "With this particular incident, the violator chose to flee from the officer and unfortunately, a very tragic crash had taken place shortly thereafter."
Sergeant Cross said the pursuit will continue to be reviewed by the CHP.
