Police Pursuit Ends in Multi-Car Crash in Murrieta, 8 Injured [Murrieta, CA]

MURRIETA, CA (March 6, 2024) — A stolen car led Murrieta police on a high-speed chase ending in a dramatic four-car collision that injured eight people on Tuesday. 

The multi-car crash in Murrieta happened just before 11 a.m. at the intersection of Jackson Avenue and Nutmeg Street, following the stolen vehicle’s failure to stop for police and subsequent running of a red light, resulting in the collision.

The Murrieta Fire & Rescue Department, with spokesperson Dawn Morrison, reported that two individuals required extraction from one of the vehicles involved. Among the injured were the male driver of the stolen car and his female passenger, both sustaining serious injuries but expected to survive. All eight victims were transported to local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.

Police Chief Tony Conrad confirmed with local news outlets the absence of police injuries or involvement in the collision, noting that illegal drugs were found in the stolen vehicle. The driver now faces charges including evasion causing injury, possession of methamphetamine for sale, and parole violation.

The pursuit, initiated after the vehicle was spotted near Juniper Street and Jefferson Avenue, was under the directive of a supervising sergeant, highlighting the precarious balance law enforcement must maintain between public safety and the apprehension of suspects.