One dead, two severely injured following crash at busy Chico intersection

CHICO — A driver of a stolen car died as a result of a collision that person caused at a busy north Chico intersection late Tuesdayk, police said.

A patrol officer noticed a stolen blue Dodge sedan traveling westbound along the 1300 block of East Avenue at around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, getting the officer's attention as it drove through the intersection of Mariposa Avenue, according to a press release from the Chico Police Department. After the officer turned on his emergency lights, the driver sped away.

According to Chico Police Lt. Ben Love, the patrol officer decided not to pursue the Dodge because of the dangers of high-speed driving in a residential area, in addition to wet pavement from rain as well as low-light conditions.

The stolen car's driver continued on East Avenue at high speed and ran a red light at the intersection with Cohasset Road, colliding with a Hyundai sedan that was moving south on Cohasset, according to the release. The force of the impact caused the Hyundai to come to rest about 100-150 feet west on East Avenue, while the Dodge spun from the force and came to rest facing east on East Avenue.

The driver of the stolen car died at the scene. That individual lay on the pavement and was covered by a white sheet.

Both cars were severely mangled. Firefighters apparently had cut off the Hyundai's roof in an effort to rescue an occupant, who was taken by ambulance to Enloe Medical Center. He was moaning as paramedics rolled him on the gurney toward the ambulance.

The Hyundai had another occupant, who was also taken to Enloe with severe injuries.

The area near the intersection was closed until officers completed their preliminary investigation around 3 a.m. Wednesday, according to the release. Chico police would not release the names of any of the involved people until being able to notify next of kin. The Butte County Coroner's Office was not available to answer phone calls.

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