A 21-year-old man was behind bars Thursday on suspicion of leading police on a chase that ended with a crash that killed another motorist in Placentia.
Darwin Felipe Bahmonmartinez was booked on suspicion of causing the deadly crash that killed another driver in Placentia Wednesday night, according to Placentia police Lt. Joe Connell.
The chase started about 7:40 p.m. Wednesday near Miraloma and Lawrence avenues in Anaheim, Anaheim police Sgt. Eric Anderson said. Officers on patrol saw the suspect behind the wheel of a dark-colored Jeep Gladiator driving recklessly and nearly colliding with a parked car, Anderson said.
When the suspect nearly collided with the police vehicle the officers pulled him over, but the driver punched the gas and drove off as they walked up to his Jeep, Anderson said.
The pursuit lasted a few minutes before it ended when the driver slammed into two cars at Bradford and Madison avenues in Placentia, Anderson said.
An elderly woman behind the wheel of one of the cars was taken to an area hospital but escaped major injuries, Anderson said. The driver of the other car was pronounced dead at the scene.
The name of the driver who died was not immediately released pending notification of relatives.