A police pursuit that began with a traffic stop attempt in Bell Gardens ended in a fatal crash late Saturday night after officers called off the chase, authorities said.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) said officers attempted to stop a vehicle on Florence Avenue around 11:13 p.m., but the driver failed to yield, prompting a pursuit. Due to the suspect running multiple red lights at high speeds, CHP quickly canceled the chase for safety reasons. Moments later, the vehicle crashed near the intersection of Randolph Street and Eastern Avenue, causing severe damage.
Emergency crews pronounced one person dead at the scene, while at least one other occupant was taken to a hospital in unknown condition. According to a witness, the crash may have also involved a pedestrian, though CHP has not confirmed whether the deceased was inside the vehicle or a bystander.
Three people in the suspect vehicle were detained, though one fled on foot after being taken into custody, authorities said. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is leading the investigation into the fatal crash in Bell Gardens.
