Advertisement

Chase ends with crash into Huntington Beach Jack in the Box

Share

An 18-year-old man was arrested after a chase ended with a car crashing into a Jack in the Box in Huntington Beach late Thursday, police said.

Police tried to stop a Honda Civic for a vehicle code violation just after 11 p.m. near Goldenwest Street and Ellis Avenue, said Huntington Beach police Lt. Tom Weizoerick.

The car sped away, beginning a chase down Ellis, Weizoerick said.

The pursuit went on for a mile before the Honda driver lost control and crashed into the lobby and dining area of the Jack in the Box restaurant near the northwest corner of Beach Boulevard and Ellis Avenue, police said.

Advertisement

The driver fled and tried to carjack two vehicles before police restrained him, police said.

Dean Viraphandeth of Westminster was arrested on suspicion of felony evading a peace officer, attempted carjacking and hit and run, police said. He was booked into Orange County Jail with bail set at $100,000, according to jail records.

The Jack in the Box was open at the time of the crash, but there were no injuries, police said. However, damage to the lobby, dining area and exterior was extensive, manager Elidet Gomez said Friday morning.

“It’s bad,” Gomez said.

The restaurant is closed until further notice, Jack in the Box said.

julia.sclafani@latimes.com


UPDATES:

11:15 a.m.: This article was updated with Dean Viraphandeth’s bail amount.

This article was originally published at 8:40 a.m.

Advertisement