SAN PEDRO, CA – A brief but intense police chase in San Pedro left six people injured, two of them seriously, after an attempt to apprehend a suspect with a felony warrant spiraled into chaos. The incident unfolded in a matter of seconds at the intersection of 19th Street and Pacific Avenue, disrupting the start of Mother’s Day weekend for those involved.
The pursuit began when officers attempted to stop a vehicle driven by a suspect wanted on a felony warrant. The chase lasted less than a minute but ended violently, with the suspect’s SUV colliding with other vehicles. Cell phone footage captured the aftermath, showing the suspect’s vehicle atop another car, a stark reminder of the chase’s abrupt and destructive end.
Among those caught in the chaos were Tommy and Deanna, who were preparing to celebrate Mother’s Day weekend. Their car was struck as the suspect barreled through the intersection. “He came at us so fast, we didn’t have time to react,” Deanna recounted, still visibly shaken by the ordeal.
Witnesses described a scene of confusion and panic. “We saw officers with guns drawn, and suddenly, the suspect’s vehicle was speeding toward us,” one bystander noted, emphasizing the rapid escalation of events.
The suspect was quickly apprehended, handcuffed, and treated at the scene. The crash involved four vehicles in total, with two individuals transported to the hospital with serious injuries. Tommy and Deanna, along with two others, were assessed on-site and, fortunately, did not sustain major injuries.
Despite the chaos, the couple expressed relief that they emerged relatively unscathed. “In the blink of an eye, everything changed,” Tommy said, reflecting on how close they came to disaster.
As emergency crews worked to clear the wreckage, traffic gradually resumed on Pacific Avenue. Tommy, though battered and bleeding, expressed gratitude for the chance to celebrate Mother’s Day with his wife, a sentiment echoed by many in the community who witnessed the shocking event.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictability and potential danger of police pursuits, especially in densely populated areas. Authorities continue to investigate the incident, ensuring that the suspect faces justice while the community recovers from the unexpected turmoil.