An Anaheim police pursuit ended in tragedy Friday when the car officers were chasing slammed into a concrete pole at the Fullerton OCTA park-and-ride, killing the driver and injuring a passenger, officials said. The crash happened shortly before 1 p.m. and shut down part of the commuter lot as officers and investigators worked the scene. Authorities have not yet publicly identified either the driver or the passenger.
How the pursuit unfolded
According to the Orange County Register, Anaheim officers attempted to pull over a silver 1996 Toyota Corolla near Euclid Street and Crescent Avenue shortly before 1 p.m. Instead of stopping, the driver took off toward Fullerton and drove into the OCTA park-and-ride at 3000 W. Orangethorpe Avenue, where the car crashed into a concrete light pole. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene, and a passenger was hospitalized with injuries described as not life-threatening.
Crash scene and investigation
Fullerton police said the collision remains under active investigation and asked anyone with information or dash-cam video from the area to contact Traffic Accident Investigator J. Munoz at 714-738-6812 or [email protected], per the Fullerton Police Department. The department added that witnesses can submit anonymous tips through Orange County Crime Stoppers.
Local context
Pursuits in Orange County have repeatedly raised concerns this year about how long law enforcement should keep a chase going. As a January pursuit that began in Anaheim showed, one earlier chase ended with a fatal collision in Placentia, a stark reminder of the stakes when a stop turns into a high-speed run.
Fullerton police said they plan to release additional details as the investigation moves forward and again urged anyone with information to come forward. The department did not immediately say whether another agency might take the lead on the probe or when the victim would be formally identified.
