1 Dead, 2 Hurt as Truck Crashes During Pursuit

One person was killed and two others injured early Sunday when a pickup truck being pursued by police ran a red light, veered out of control at high speed and crashed near downtown San Diego, police said.

One man, identified as a passenger, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Two others--believed to be the driver, a man, and a female passenger--were taken by Life Flight helicopter to the UCSD Medical Center, police said.

The woman was in critical condition and the man’s status was listed as fair to stable, said a hospital spokeswoman.

The injured man was identified as Alejandro Lopez. The woman’s identity was not immediately available.

Police said a patrol car began following the vehicle when it ran a red light at 12th and Imperial avenues.

The truck accelerated up to 55 m.p.h. in a residential zone before losing control at a dip in the road and crashing into a telephone pole and electrical pole at 13th Street and National Avenue at 6:58 a.m.

Jeannie Frary, a police officer in the pursuing vehicle, suffered a minor neck sprain and was treated at Mercy Hospital and released, said Bill Robinson, a police spokesman.

Police said the pickup truck involved had been reported stolen in Chula Vista.