The CHP has issued a statement following a deadly crash near downtown San Jose. The CHP says the driver of a green Ford Explorer was fleeing officers after a traffic stop at 1:25 a.m. on Thursday morning.
In a written statement, the CHP says after the vehicle pulled over and the officers had gotten out of their car, the driver of the Explorer sped off.
The statement goes on to read: "The officers returned to their patrol car, activated their lights and siren and attempted to follow the Ford Explorer but soon lost sight of the vehicle. As a result, the officers discontinued their pursuit and remained in the area looking for the Ford Explorer."
A short time later, the CHP says the officers spotted the Explorer and "As the officers activated their emergency equipment in an attempt to initiate a stop on the Ford Explorer, the vehicle simultaneously lost control and crashed into two parked vehicles."
The two passengers in the back seat of the Explorer were killed in the crash and a third passenger in the front seat was taken to the hospital. San Jose Police identified the driver as 19-year-old Jose Antonio Hernandez of San Jose.
A police spokesman says Hernandez was treated for minor injuries and booked into the Santa Clara County Jail on two counts of vehicular manslaughter, felony DUI, evading officers, possession of a controlled substance and driving with a suspended license.
This crash follows an incident earlier this year that has the CHP and local government leaders talking about the CHP pursuit policy in urban areas.
In July, the CHP gave chase to driver who made a right hand turn against a posted sign that did not allow the turn on a red light. The high speed chase ended when the driver ran a red light and smashed into another car killing a 15-year-old girl.
