One of two people killed when a minivan being pursued by police crashed into a Metro bus in downtown Los Angeles was identified Monday.
Baltazar Rayon, 28, died at the scene of the Sunday morning crash, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner. Police said he and the other person who died were rear-seat passengers in the minivan.
The van’s driver and front-seat passenger were both taken to hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries, authorities said. The driver of the Metro bus was evaluated at the scene but did not require hospitalization.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, patrolling officers spotted someone throwing a gun from the green minivan in the area of the Harbor (110) Freeway and Central Avenue around 5 a.m. Sunday.
Officers tried to pull the minivan over, but the driver fled, prompting a pursuit that lasted for about one to two minutes, ending when the minivan crashed into a Metro bus in the area of Main and 17th streets, police said.
Police said the gun that was tossed out of the minivan was recovered.