Suspects Collide with Vehicle While Attempting to Flee from Scene

***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***

Date: Saturday, November 25, 2006
Contact: Officer Zuhlke, Press Information Officer
Subject: Suspects Collide with Vehicle While Attempting to Flee from Scene
Location: 10800 Bloomfield Road

Santa Fe Springs, CA – Two suspects are in custody after colliding with a vehicle in the intersection of Bloomfield Road and Florence Avenue. At 1:40am, a Whittier Police Officer was “flagged down” by patrons in the parking lot of Senior Charlie’s, located on the corner of Los Nietos Rd. and Santa Fe Springs Road. Entering the parking lot, the officer noticed a silver Nissan pickup approaching him at a high rate of speed after hearing what he thought to be a collision. As the vehicle passed the patrol officer he told the driver to stop, but the truck, which was occupied by two male Hispanics, fled the scene at a high rate of speed. Officers would later learn that a shooting had occurred in the parking lot minutes prior to arrival. No shooting victims would be located at the scene.

As the Officer exited the parking lot in his patrol car, he began searching for the suspect vehicle which was last seen at a high rate of speed (southbound) on Bloomfield Rd. As the officer continued his search, he observed (from a great distance) the silver Nissan fleeing at a high rate of speed and running stop signals. He then observed the Nissan run a red light at the intersection of Bloomfield Rd. and Florence Ave., and collide with a small Honda. The Honda was broadsided and the Nissan pickup rolled on its side and came to a rest against a palm tree. Both suspects then climbed out of the pickup and began fleeing on foot. Ultimately, a containment would be established and both suspects taken into custody. Additionally, a handgun would be recovered from inside the vehicle. The driver of the Nissan was booked on felony DUI, hit and run, and suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon. The passenger was also booked for suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon.

The driver of the Honda, who was broadsided, was immediately tended to by officers but remained unconscious during treatment. The 20 year old female, residing in the county area of Whittier, is now in critical condition at a local trauma center.

The Whittier Police Department is asking for the public’s help in locating another vehicle which was believed to be involved in the shooting and traffic collision at Senior Charlie’s. The vehicle was described as a dark blue, 4-door, Honda with tinted windows and major rear-end damage.
Anyone with additional information is urged to contact the Whittier Police Department at (562) 945-8250.

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