A teenage driver was suspected of leading law enforcement officers on a car chase spanning two counties Sunday night, which ended in a crash that left several people, including a San Diego County Sheriff's Deputy injured, authorities said.
The 18-year-old driver, identified as Brenden Hawkins, was arrested Sunday on suspicion of possession of a stolen vehicle, felony evading and two counts of felony child endangerment after a pursuit from Riverside to Vista.
The chase of a reported stolen white 2023 Kia Forte started somewhere in Riverside County and at some point on southbound Interstate 15, the Riverside County Sheriff's Department lost sight of the vehicle. SDSO said they were told to be on the lookout.
A short time later, deputies from the Fallbrook station saw the Kia traveling south on I-15 at Mission Road with no lights on, SDSO said.
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"Deputies initiated a traffic enforcement stop and the driver failed to yield, resulting in a traffic pursuit," SDSO Lt. Delgado said. "The stolen Kia continued southbound on I-15 at speeds in excess of 110 mph."
The pursuit led deputies through Escondido before entering onto westbound Highway 78.
The Kia continued to flee at high speeds and exited on Sycamore Avenue. As the Kia traveled through Vista, the driver failed to negotiate a traffic circle at the intersection of South Santa Fe Avenue and Pala Vista Drive and struck the concrete traffic circle structure, causing the vehicle to overturn, Delgado said.
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Deputies detained four people exiting the Kia: an adult driver, an adult passenger and two juvenile passengers. All four were taken to local hospitals for medical evaluations.
A pursuing deputy's view was obscured by the Kia kicking up dust and debris and the deputy was unable to avoid a crash into the traffic circle, the lieutenant said. The deputy was rushed to a hospital with minor injuries.
