A driver died after the pickup he was in crashed into a streetlight during a pursuit with San Diego police officers early Wednesday morning in Barrio Logan, investigators said.
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Police received reports from multiple people around 12:20 a.m. about gunshots possibly involving a pickup near the area of National Avenue and Chicano Park Boulevard, as well as a few blocks away around National Avenue and Evans Street, police Sgt. Saum Poorsaleh said. Officers arrived and checked the area for signs of a shooting.
Around 30 minutes later, Poorsaleh said, officers attempted to pull over a pickup at National Avenue and Chicano Park Boulevard for allegedly failing to stop at a red light.
“The truck refused to stop after officers activated their lights and sirens,” Poorsaleh said. “The truck continued running multiple stop signs and stoplights before officers initiated a felony pursuit.”
A passenger jumped out of the pickup on Logan Avenue near 31st Street and ran from officers, Poorsaleh said. He was eventually detained.
The pickup then allegedly drove onto southbound Interstate 5 from Boston Avenue before exiting at Main Street, officers said.
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The pickup then collided with a streetlight at the intersection of Yama and Main streets, causing the pole to fall onto the truck, Poorsaleh said.
“Rendering medical aid to the driver was delayed because the streetlight was still electrified and on the truck,” Poorsaleh said. Once Caltrans deactivated the electrical current, San Diego Fire-Rescue Department personnel and medics then went to assess the driver.
Officials said the driver died at the scene. He had not been identified as of approximately 3 p.m., Poorsaleh said.
Police said a firearm was found at the scene and that the Police Department will be handling the investigation into the reported gunshots. The California Highway Patrol is handling the crash investigation.
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No other information about the investigation was immediately available.
