Help Is Asked in Finding Pair Who Killed Car Owner

Police on Friday asked for the public’s help in locating the women who stole a car and then fatally ran over the owner who tried to stop them.

The victim, identified as Ubaldo Apolonio Estrada, 20, of Long Beach, was killed Thursday near the intersection of Pacific Avenue and 21st Street.

Police said Estrada had driven to a friend’s house in the 1300 block of 21st Street with two women. When he got out of his 1987 Chevrolet Cavalier to knock on the friend’s door, one of the passengers moved into the driver’s seat and started to speed off.

“Estrada ran to his car, grabbed onto the passenger door and held on for about a block and a half,” Santa Ana Police spokeswoman Maureen Haacker said. “Then he lost his grip and was drawn under the car and was dragged for another block before being thrown free.”

Estrada died at the scene.

Haacker said police do not know the relationship between the women and the victim.

“It appears that this is a vehicle theft because we have not located the vehicle,” she said.

Police have requested that anyone with information concerning the whereabouts of the car or the two occupants call investigators at (714) 834-4801.

The Chevrolet Cavalier was described as red with a black spoiler and a California license plate number of ZEVJ296.