Fleeing Car Crashes Into Jammed Compact; 9 Injured

Nine people, including five children packed into a compact car, were injured Tuesday night when a vehicle being pursued by Anaheim police crashed into the compact near a dead-end street in Fullerton.

According to police, a red Chevrolet Camaro that was being chased by police slammed into a Toyota Celica near the intersection of Brookhurst Road and Commonwealth Avenue shortly before 10 p.m.

The driver of the Toyota was thrown from the car on impact. The Toyota, which was carrying the children, the driver and two others, turned on its side.

The children were ages 3 to 12, according to police at the scene. A woman was strapped into one of the seats with one child in the Toyota, which has seat belts for four people, according to police at the scene.

The names and conditions of the injured were not immediately available, but two people--the female driver of the pursued car and a passenger in the Toyota--were knocked unconscious and others suffered scrapes and cuts, according to authorities.

Fullerton police said a Jaws of Life hydraulic prying tool was brought to the scene to free the driver of the Camaro.

According to Anaheim police, the pursuit started about 9:45 p.m. near Ball Avenue and Nutwood Street. The pursuit lasted about six minutes at speeds of up to 80 m.p.h. before it ended at the northeast corner of Commonwealth and Brookhurst. The collision sent both cars slamming into light poles, knocking out traffic signals at the intersection.

It was not immediately known why the car was being pursued.

The driver of the Camaro, who was alone in the car, was arrested, according to police.

The injured were transported to St. Jude Hospital and Rehabilitation Center in Fullerton, UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange, United Western Medical Center--Santa Ana and Fountain Valley Regional Hospital and Medical Center.

Times staff photographer Aurelio Jose Barrera contributed to this story.