A woman in her 60s was killed when a man accused of being involved in a grocery store theft initiated a pursuit that ended in a four-car crash. Amber Frias reports for the NBC4 News at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024.
A woman in her 60s was killed in a multi-vehicle crash following a pursuit that ended in La Palma on Wednesday, according to the Fullerton Police Department.
The crash was reported sometime around 1 p.m. after a man was accused of being involved in a theft at an Albertsons store in Fullerton and instigated a chase. Amid the pursuit, the suspect struck another vehicle and continued to flee.
At some point, police lost the suspect vehicle as it entered the 91 Freeway, then found it minutes later traveling on surface streets in La Palma. Law enforcement then restarted the pursuit.
The suspect then crashed, involving three other vehicles at the intersection of La Palma Avenue and Moody Street. A woman who was in her 60s and traveling in a BMW was seriously hurt in the crash. She died of her injuries at the scene.
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The pursuit suspect, who was later identified as 43-year-old Anthony Hanzal of Anaheim, was taken to a nearby hospital for injuries sustained in the crash. He'll be facing charges that include petty theft, hit-and-run and felony evading.
Aerial footage from NewsChopper 4 captured three vehicles that appeared to have been extensively damaged and a minivan appeared to have minor damage.
The investigation is ongoing.
