A police pursuit that started in Anaheim on Wednesday night ended with the suspect’s vehicle colliding with another car, killing the driver, officials said.
The suspect, identified Thursday as 21-year-old Darvin Felipe Bahamon Martinez, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of felony evading police and vehicular manslaughter, according to the Placentia Police Department. The victim was identified only as a Placentia man in his 60s, according to Anaheim Police Sgt. Eric Anderson.
Anaheim police initiated an enforcement stop at 7:41 p.m. Wednesday when officers saw a dark-colored Jeep Gladiator driving recklessly in the area of Mira Loma and Lawrence avenues, Anaheim police said. The driver initially yielded, but as officers approached his car on foot, he suddenly accelerated.
Anaheim police then used emergency lights and a siren to attempt to perform a second enforcement stop as the driver fled into the neighboring city of Placentia.
Three minutes later, he crashed into another vehicle near Bradford and Madison avenues, killing the other driver, Anaheim police said.
A third vehicle was then struck in the crash. That driver, identified only as an elderly female, suffered minor injuries, Anderson said.
“I saw a car driving like at least 70 mph, and he ran the red light, so I was able to brake in time,” Maria Torres told KABC. “I just saw the cops running behind him. It seemed like it was a pursuit, so I called 911 and it confirmed that it was a pursuit. It must’ve been like less than a foot away from hitting me.”
The Placentia Police Department is handling the ongoing criminal investigation into the crash. It is unclear whether Martinez was under the influence of drugs or alcohol during the incident.