Two young children were killed when a short police pursuit ended in a fiery crash in San Diego’s Mountain View neighborhood Friday evening, police said.
The fleeing car slammed into another vehicle on a freeway off-ramp. It was not immediately clear which vehicle the children were in, Officer John Buttle said.
He said the initial report indicates the children the were ages 3 and 5.
The chase started at 6:14 p.m. when San Diego police tried to stop a speeding four-door sedan at 32nd Street and Ocean View Boulevard, Buttle said.
Instead of stopping, the sedan driver took off, jumping on to southbound Interstate 805.
Four minutes later, the driver tried to exit the freeway at 43rd Street, Buttle said. There, the sedan slammed into another vehicle.
One of the two cars caught fire, but Buttle said it was not clear which one.
First responders attempted life-saving measures on the children at the scene. The children were taken to a hospital where they died, Buttle said.
After the crash, the sedan driver jumped out and ran off. Police searched and detained one person, but as of 8 p.m. officers were working to determine if it was the driver involved in the chase.
California Highway Patrol issued a traffic alert, noting that the off-ramp would be closed during the crash investigation.
This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.
