Two people were killed late Wednesday in a violent crash that appeared to follow a police pursuit through Pomona, turning a busy intersection into a debris-strewn crime scene. Los Angeles County firefighters were called around 10 p.m. to Garey Avenue and County Road near the 60 Freeway, where they pronounced both people dead at the scene. Video from the aftermath showed wreckage scattered across the street, including a baby car seat and a heavily damaged car on the sidewalk, partially covered by a white sheet.
What officials say
Pomona police said they are still working to understand how the pursuit unfolded and what led to the collision, describing the early details as limited while investigators combed through evidence at the scene. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said it assisted Pomona officers in the chase but is not handling the investigation itself. Authorities have not yet identified the two people who were killed, according to ABC7.
Local precedent
Deadly pursuits are not new to Pomona. In October 2024, a high-speed chase on the 10 Freeway ended when a vehicle crashed, and two people were ejected and killed, according to earlier reporting by the Los Angeles Times. Incidents like that one and Wednesday's crash highlight how quickly a chase can turn fatal on crowded freeways and surface streets in and around the city.
Why chases turn deadly
National data has long warned that vehicle pursuits come with steep risks for everyone involved, from fleeing drivers to officers and bystanders who just happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. A law enforcement guide that analyzed NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System data found the United States averaged roughly 370 fatal crashes per year linked to police pursuits from 2015 to 2020. The report urges agencies to rely on stricter pursuit policies, new technology, and focused training to help reduce those numbers, according to Scribd.
What happens next
Pomona police say the investigation into Wednesday's crash is ongoing and that more details will be released as they are confirmed. As of now, authorities have not publicly identified the two people killed in the collision, according to ABC7.
