Pregnant Passenger Injured After Pursuit Ends In Crash

GARDEN GROVE (CBSLA.com) — Garden Grove police were led on a pursuit late Monday that carried into early Tuesday and ended in a crash in Westminster after an unlicensed driver sped away from a traffic stop for talking on his cell phone, injuring the driver's pregnant passenger.

Luis Santoya, 29, was later arrested on suspicion of felony evading police, according to Garden Grove police Lieutenant Jeff Nightengale.

As April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, police have been cracking down on scofflaws who text or talk on cell phones while driving. California state law mandates the "hands free" operation of any cellular device while driving.

Santoya was pulled over by police at Newland and Garden Grove Boulevard at about 11:15 p.m. As two officers got out of their patrol car, however, the suspect sped away, according to Lt. Jeff Nightengale.

Police gave chase until which point Santoya ran a red light at Beach Boulevard and Trask Avenue and lost control of his vehicle, which overturned.

The vehicle crashed into three cars in the intersection. Minor injuries were reported by the occupants of the other affected vehicles.

Santoya and his passenger, who is about seven months pregnant, were also reportedly taken to an area hospital to be treated for minor injuries.

Santoya is said to have been on probation for drug-related charges, and he does not have a driver's license, according to Lt. Nightengale.

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