Two Dead and One Injured in Crash on Olive Avenue at Plano Street
PORTERVILLE, CA (March 20, 2018) – Two people died and injuries were reported after a high-speed police chase ended on Olive Avenue on Tuesday.
According to police, the incident started at around 3:00 PM after officers were alerted about gang members, one armed with a knife, looking for a student at J.J. Cairns High School. Officers immediately responded and located the suspect who was in a parked maroon Nissan Altima next to the school. When officers tried to confront the female driver, she fled, nearly hitting one of the officers.
A high-speed pursuit ensued, which took officers from the City of Lindsey to Porterville. Police stated that the occupants in the vehicle were throwing items out of the car on multiple occasions. Lindsey Police requested assistance from the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office and CHP.
Once Lindsay Police entered Porterville, the chase was called off for public safety reasons. The vehicle kept driving at high speeds, reaching anywhere from 60-100 miles per hour.
Shortly after ending the chase, police say they received a report of a rollover crash where multiple people were ejected from a car, at the intersection of Plano Street and Olive Avenue, where the car ran a red light and clipped a Dodge Ram truck before crashing into a light pole.
The driver of the suspect vehicle, 23-year-old Alexia Gonzalez, died at the scene and another suspect, 33-year-old Jose Sanchez, was taken to the Sierra View Medical Center. He later succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead. The third suspect who fled on foot, 32-year-old Ray Perez, was apprehended by the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office and is currently in critical condition.
The roadway was closed off for several hours as crews not only investigated the crash but worked to secure the vehicle so they could pull the driver out.
Porterville Police are investigating the traffic collision and Lindsay Police will continue the criminal investigation.
We at Sweet Law Group offer our condolences to the family and friends of Alexia Gonzalez and Jose Sanchez.
If you or someone you love was inolved in a serious car accident, contact the expereienced lawyers at Sweet Law Group. With over 40 years of experience in the legal field, we know what it takes to win your case and achieve the compensation and jutsice that is owed. We have delt with cases including personal injury, car crashes, wrongful death, and disability. Call (800) 203-3061 to arrange a free initial meeting with an experienced legal professional in your area.
