Three passengers in a suspected stolen vehicle died after the vehicle crashed in Mount Hope Tuesday night while being pursued by police.
The silver Honda Pilot was traveling eastbound on Market Street, being followed by a law enforcement helicopter, when it crashed near Raven Street at around 11 p.m., according to SDPD Officer John Buttle.
At least two passengers became trapped in the wreck, Officer Buttle said.
By 11:40 p.m., those two passengers and the vehicle's driver had died as a result of their injuries, according to Buttle.
The fourth passenger was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. SDPD said Wednesday they were expected to survive.
Friends and a relative visiting the site of the crash Wednesday told NBC7 the driver and passengers killed in the SUV were all teens who had taken a grandmother’s car for a joyride.
Police have not identified the victims, or confirmed their relationship to the owner of the stolen SUV.
Local
The SUV was reported stolen to the Chula Vista Police Department. CVPD investigators confirmed the keys were left inside the Honda, and that it was stolen from an apartment complex in Chula Vista.
Officers first made contact with the vehicle at 24th and Island Avenue. The SUV did not have its headlights on, according to SDPD.
Officers ran the vehicle's plates and saw the Honda was reported stolen with CPVD, Buttle said. They attempted to stop the vehicle but it continued on Market Street near Interstate 15.
Officers lost sight of the SUV after the driver ran a red light, but an SDPD helicopter flying over head was able to track the Honda as it fled at a high rate of speed, SDPD said.
About a minute later, the SUV crashed into a light pole and a tree on the southeast corner of Market and Raven streets, according to SDPD. Two of the four occupants were ejected from the vehicle on impact.
Investigators believe the SUV was traveling at around 100 mph when it crashed. It also appears that none of the occupants were wearing seatbelts, SDPD said.
Video of the scene showed the SUV ended up in a small ravine. Dozens of officers responded to the deadly scene.
No other information was available.
Check back for updates on this story.
