Woman Left in Coma, 4 Others Injured in Crash

One woman was in a coma and four other people were treated for lesser injuries following a high-speed chase that began early Sunday in downtown Huntington Beach and ended in a crash here five minutes later, police said.

Police said the driver of the vehicle, James Alan Casey, 29, of Garden Grove, was being treated for injuries to the hands and arms. Police arrested Casey on suspicion of felony driving under the influence and evading police. Two passengers also were treated for injuries.

The incident began about 12:20 a.m. when Huntington Beach police tried to pull over a black Mustang that allegedly failed to heed a stop sign, said Huntington Beach Police Sgt. Janet Perez. The car sped off, Perez said.

At the intersection of Brookhurst Street and Ellis Avenue in Fountain Valley, the vehicle struck a car driven by Ralph Phillips, 50, who sustained minor injuries, Perez said. Phillips’ passenger, My Hein, 40, of Westminster, suffered major head trauma and was listed in critical condition at UCI Medical Center in Orange, Perez said.