A wrong-way pursuit in Commerce led to a tragic two-vehicle crash, the aftermath leaving one bystander dead, and several others critically injured. The pursuit, which began around 11 p.m. on Saturday, concluded with a collision at Eastern Avenue and Randolph Street after the fleeing driver lost control, according to the NBC Los Angeles report.
California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers attempted to stop the Chrysler 300, which ended up skidding into an intersection and striking a Chevy Cruze that was believed, to be stopped at a red light. "After striking the Chevy Cruze, the stolen vehicle then struck two pedestrians that were along the east curb," Sergeant Vallozzi informed NBC Los Angeles. There was a further pedestrian casualty, a person sitting on a bench killed by the impact, and another pedestrian in a crosswalk who had their legs severed as reported by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's East Los Angeles station to CBS News Los Angeles.
Post-crash, firefighters and paramedics attended to the scene. The driver of the stolen vehicle was arrested after being treated and the conditions of the other occupants remain unclear. Two of the suspect's vehicle occupants sustained "extensive injuries" and the number of people in the Chevy Cruze at the time of the incident, was not immediately known. This information was disseminated by the FOX LA coverage.
Authorities are piecing together the circumstances that led to this fast-moving chain of events. Meanwhile, two other individuals suffered minor injuries in the crash, firefighters said. While it has not been confirmed if they required hospitalization, the full extent of the consequences from the errant journey of the stolen Chrysler 300 continues to unfold. "We're still working backwards to figure out what has happened," a CHP official mentioned, to CBS News Los Angeles.
The investigation into the pursuit and subsequent collision is ongoing. The CHP urges anyone with information relevant to the incident to come forward and assist in their inquiries.
