Officers rushed to help an unconscious man trapped inside the fiery wreck of a crashed car in Chula Vista early Monday morning.
Police officers responded to reports of a fight in the 400 block of L Street around 2:15 a.m, according to the Chula Vista Police Department (CVPD). The caller said three people got into an argument, which then escalated. One of them fled the scene in their vehicle.
While responding to the call, an officer noticed a driver bolting down the street at high speeds. According to CVPD, the car was noticeably damaged. Sparks came shooting up from the ground as it dragged hanging car parts.
The officer took off in pursuit of the driver, joined by two other officers, in a chase that reached speeds over 80 mph on L street, said police. The suspect blazed through a red light at Broadway without stopping at any point. He continued driving westbound and drove through an intersection at Bay Boulevard.
That's when the driver struck a guard rail, sending his vehicle flying through the air. He plummeted roughly 100 feet down a concrete-lined ditch, where his car caught fire, said CVPD officers.
When officers rushed to the crash scene, they found the 19-year-old man unconscious in the back seat of a fiery car.
Once they reached the flaming vehicle, the officers each grabbed one of the man's arms and pulled him out.
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Seconds later, the burning car burst into flames, fully engulfed in the fire.
Paramedics transported the man to a nearby hospital; he is receiving treatment for a leg fracture and other injuries, said police. Due to the extent of his wounds, he was not immediately arrested.
Chula Vista Police Department's Traffic Division is investigating.
Police said possible charges might include driving under the influence and felony police evasion. The 19-year-old is not suspected of any other crimes at this time. The driver was tested for alcohol consumption.
No further information was immediately available.
