Fatal Temple City Pursuit Under Investigation
TEMPLE CITY (CBSLA.com) — A fatal police pursuit in Temple City is under investigation.
Police say a suspected car thief was killed after running a red light at Arden Drive and East Lower Azusa Road Monday, resulting in a four-vehicle crash.
Investigators say it started in Arcadia, when officers spotted a stolen Honda.
When they tried to pull over the vehicle, the driver sped off and a chase ensued. Police say the driver reached speeds in excess of 60 mph before the chain reaction collision, which saw the Honda spin into a minivan.
"The driver of the stolen vehicle was struck by a vehicle traveling southbound, which caused the stolen vehicle to spin out of control and hit the other vehicles," Arcadia Police Lt. Roy Nakamura said.
Police say the Honda was stolen and the men inside were on the run.
The suspect's passenger died at the scene.
Daniel Smart, who shot video of the aftermath, recalled the violent crash.
"We saw the car going - might have been 100mph - going, going, going. All we saw was the car just go... Boom. We saw the smoke from it," Smart said.
Debris was scattered in the Temple City intersection where the chase ended.
Police say no one in the other cars the suspect hit was seriously hurt.
