Man Arrested After He Crashes Stolen Car in Freeway Chase

A Santa Ana man who led police on a brief chase early Thursday morning at speeds reaching 100 m.p.h. lost control of the stolen car he was driving and went over the side of a freeway off-ramp, authorities said.

Fernando Ovalle, 22, was arrested by police as he attempted to run away after crashing the car, which had been stolen from Costa Mesa only hours before, said Irvine police Lt. Al Muir.

An Irvine police officer spotted Ovalle speeding along the northbound lanes of the San Diego Freeway at shortly after 1:30 a.m. and began following the driver. Ovalle got off the freeway, ran through a red light, drove on the wrong side of the road, then got back on the freeway at Culver Avenue, Muir said.

“At this point, the officer activated his siren and attempted to stop the car and the pursuit was on,” Muir said. “While trying to negotiate the off-ramp at Bristol Street, (Ovalle) lost control of the car and went off the freeway into some ice plants.”

Ovalle got out of the car, ignoring the officer’s order to stop, and ran, Muir said. Costa Mesa police, who had arrived to assist, arrested the man a short distance away from the off-ramp.

Ovalle was taken to Orange County Jail, where he is being held for suspicion of auto theft and several traffic violations committed during the pursuit, Muir said.