Gang Member Chase Causes 5-Car Pileup
Police say a chase between gang members caused a five-car pileup in Thousand Oaks on Sunday that resulted in six people being transported to local hospitals for medical attention.
A car driven by Christopher Justice, 18, of Thousand Oaks, described by police as a known gang member, was being pursued by two cars, each carrying several gang members. Justice’s vehicle and one of the two pursuing vehicles ran a red light as they headed northbound on Moorpark Road, and then collided with three vehicles going west on Avenida de Los Arboles, police said. The second car chasing Justice didn’t stop after the crash, witnesses told police.
Two Thousand Oaks residents who were in the cars that were hit, Deborah Nowak, 46, and Katie Thull, 17, received treatment for head injuries. Nowak was discharged today; Thull is in satisfactory condition. Four people in the cars participating in the chase, including three minors, sustained injuries ranging from facial cuts to a broken leg.
Police say they don’t know the motive for the chase.
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