Driver of Stolen FBI Car Killed in Police Pursuit

A man driving an FBI car stolen from El Toro Marine Air Station was killed Friday during a high-speed chase when he crashed into a block wall, was thrown from the car and it landed on top of him.

According to Tustin police, officer Bryan Meder first spotted the stolen 1983 maroon Mercury Marquis at 2:20 a.m. as it came off the Santa Ana Freeway and turned onto Redhill Avenue. A pursuit began, with speeds reaching 100 m.p.h. When the driver tried to negotiate a turn at Edinger Avenue near Ross Street in Santa Ana, the car struck a raised median and crashed into the wall, according to Sgt. James Peery. The impact nearly stood the car on its front end.

The driver was identified by the county coroner’s office as Donnell Kevin Williams, 27, of Long Beach.

“He’s not a Marine,” said Gunnery Sgt. Jerry Hendrix, a base spokesman.

The Naval Intelligence Service, which is investigating the theft, also confirmed that the dead man was a civilian, Hendrix said. The car had been reported stolen from the El Toro Marine Base at 11 a.m. Thursday.

A civilian cannot enter the El Toro base without a sponsor or a legitimate reason, Hendrix said, adding that a military identification card was found on the dead man’s body, but it did not belong to him.

Naval Intelligence indicated the case may be more than a simple car theft, Hendrix said, but no further information was available.

FBI spokesman Jim Neilson said the bureau had no comment about how the car was stolen or why it was at the base.