Anaheim police chase ends in fatal, fiery crash

A police pursuit ended in a deadly, fiery crash Monday night after a van that authorities allege was involved in a homicide crashed into a freeway retaining wall in Anaheim, Orange County Sheriff’s Department officials said.

The crash, in which the driver was killed, occurred at about 9:25 p.m. near East Frontera Street and North Rio Vista Street, said Lt. John Roche of the Sheriff’s Department. Flames engulfed the vehicle shortly after it struck a wall bordering the 91 Freeway, Roche said.

Authorities said the van matched the description of a vehicle believed to have been involved in a homicide in Tustin earlier Monday. Detectives were at the scene of that incident in the 18400 block of Warren Avenue in Tustin, the Sheriff’s Department said.

A woman who was found at the Tustin home died at a local hospital after being shot at least once, Roche said.

Roche said the pursuit began in the 100 block of Franklin Street in Santa Ana shortly before the crash. Officers were watching a home they believed was connected to the Tustin homicide when they began to chase the van.

A portion of the northbound 57 Freeway was briefly shut down while investigators searched for an object that emitted sparks when the driver threw it out of the van, Roche said.

For breaking news, follow @AdolfoFlores3