A police chase in the San Fernando Valley resulted in a collision on Saturday, killing one woman and injuring three others, including the culprit, according to officials.
Around 1:32 p.m., a tumultuous scene broke out in the Winnetka area.
Police said the man, who is thought to be in his 40s, observed officers pursuing him on suspicion of driving a stolen Mercedes SUV.
The suspect sped away southbound on Mason Avenue, colliding with a white Tesla crossing westbound at Saticoy Street.
“The light had turned green for east and west traffic on Saticoy,” stated LAPD Deputy Chief Don Graham. “The suspect vehicle crashed into the Tesla as it was heading southbound at a high rate of speed, and the Tesla then crashed into the other two vehicles.”
After the stolen SUV overturned, the suspect was promptly caught, and he was taken to the hospital with minor injuries, according to officials.
The drivers of a black and silver automobile were also taken to the hospital with minor injuries, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
The woman at the wheel of the white Tesla died on the scene.
“It was bad,” a neighboring resident, Maria Toribio recalled. “That was my initial reaction, my stomach started to churn.”
Toribio, a neighbor who heard the accident, told KTLA’s Angeli Kakade that he would never forget the sound.
“This is the kind of tragedy that will live with this family forever, so close to the holidays,” Graham said. “It is unfathomable to think about.”
The suspect is now facing vehicular homicide charges.
Toribio expressed hope that city officials will finally solve the various issues plaguing the crossroads where the terrible crash occurred.
