A woman driving a stolen truck crashed into a police officer’s patrol car in Escondido Tuesday night – and then tried to flee on foot.
Brittany James, 23, was driving a stolen 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck northbound on Midway Drive just before 9:30 p.m. At the same time, an officer with the Escondido Police Department (EPD) was driving his marked patrol car south on Midway Drive near Washington Avenue.
As James approached, she lost control of the truck and drifted into opposing lanes, sideswiping the officer’s car.
The EPD said James hopped out of the truck and tried to flee on foot but was arrested a short distance away by the very officer whom she hit.
Both James and the police officer were taken to Palomar Medical Center for treatment and both were released with minor injuries.
James was arrested for auto theft and hit-and-run. The truck she was driving had been reported stolen out of Palomar College, police said.
At this point, alcohol or drugs are not suspected factors in the crash. The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information on the crash can reach out to the EPD at (760) 839-4722.
