A van driver who was not involved in the attempted traffic stop and the driver suspected of fleeing deputies were both airlifted to trauma centers after a collision in Hesperia on Saturday afternoon, according to Victor Valley News. The van driver was in a gray 2004 Chevrolet Express 1500, the outlet reported, citing San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman Jenny Smith. The suspect, described as an adult male driving a Chevrolet SUV, was taken into custody at the scene and airlifted by sheriff’s helicopter, according to the report.
How the crash unfolded
The crash was reported at about 4:30 p.m. at Sycamore Street and Cottonwood Avenue. Before the collision, deputies attempted a traffic stop near Bear Valley Road and Mariposa Road in Victorville, but the vehicle left, Smith told Victor Valley News. The pursuit ended about a mile from the attempted stop when the suspect vehicle struck the van, the outlet reported.
Investigation and local context
Cottonwood Avenue and Sycamore Street were closed during the investigation, and drivers were urged to stay clear, according to Victor Valley News. Smith said through the outlet that authorities were continuing to investigate and would provide more information later. The report said no further details had been released about the suspect’s identity, the reason for the initial stop or possible charges.
California pursuit policies and crash data
A 2024 California Highway Patrol report says SB 719 requires law enforcement agencies to establish pursuit policies, provide ongoing training and report pursuits to the CHP within 30 days. The report counted 13,627 pursuits reported statewide in 2023; 2,593, or 19%, resulted in a crash.
Two earlier pursuits provide limited local context. A February 2023 crash on Bear Valley Road near Third Avenue left the driver and two occupants with minor injuries; one person was airlifted to Loma Linda University Medical Center, according to a prior Victor Valley News report. In September 2022, deputies used a PIT maneuver to stop a black Audi on the southbound 15 Freeway near Main Street; the suspect ran and was apprehended near Amargosa and Eucalyptus, the outlet reported.
