San Jose High-Speed Chase Ends In Fatal Crash With Tanker Truck
SAN JOSE (CBS SF) -- A San Jose man was killed and another injured early Saturday after a high-speed chase ended with a crash into a tanker truck, according to police.
Jesus Loera, 21, was killed when the pickup truck he was driving west on Alum Rock Avenue at a high rate of speed struck the side of a tanker truck on East Santa Clara Street at U.S. Highway 101 just past the overpass, Sgt. Jason Dwyer said. The tanker was making a wide turn at the time of the crash.
The crash forced the pickup under the tanker, shearing off the top, and sent the smaller truck crashing into a building on the 1400 block of East Santa Clara Street, Dwyer said.
Loera was declared dead at the scene at 5:30 a.m. His passenger, a 22-year-old San Jose man, survived and was taken to a hospital to be treated, but Dwyer did not know the extent of his injuries.
The deadly crash ended a high-speed chase launched after the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office received calls reporting a reckless driver.
Deputies called San Jose police for assistance at 5:12 a.m., shortly after the chase began, but not at an emergency level, meaning that officers were not asked to use red lights or sirens, Dwyer said. The crash occurred while San Jose police officers were still en route.
The tanker truck, which is usually used to transport ethanol, was empty at the time of the crash, and did not spill any hazardous materials, Dwyer said. The driver was not injured.
San Jose police are investigating the crash because it took place within city limits, Dwyer said.
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