Last Updated on January 9, 2023 by CCAR Staff
SAN BERNARDINO >> A violent collision claimed the life of a motorist following a stolen vehicle pursuit that ended near the southbound 215 Freeway at Fifth Street in San Bernardino Tuesday morning.
• Video: Aftermath of 215 Freeway on-ramp crash
The unidentified victim had just left work around 4:30 a.m. from the nearby rail yard, according to a witness.
Shortly before the deadly crash, San Bernardino police officers spotted a stolen black compact vehicle with two people inside near Base Line Street and Sierra Way, said Lt. Rich Lawhead.
“They didn’t stop for lights and went through intersections,” he said.
The driver exited the southbound 215 Freeway at Fifth Street, ran a red light and smashed into an eastbound Honda, killing the Honda’s driver, officials said. The identity of the man killed was not released as of 6 p.m.
The driver of the reportedly stolen Nissan Sentra was identified as Damian Garcia, 18, of San Bernardino. The passenger is Ricardo Cerda, 21, also of San Bernardino, Lawhead said. Both men were taken to an area hospital with complaints of pain, Lawhead said. They were both booked into West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga on suspicion of grand theft auto and felony evading.
The car they were in was reported stolen Monday out of San Bernardino, but the details of that crime were not immediately available.
The two black compact cars sat mangled near the on-ramp as San Bernardino police officials investigated the scene.
The westbound lanes of Fifth Street remained open, but officials shut down the eastbound side near the 215 overpass.
