Three suspected burglars were killed and two others injured when fleeing police and crashing on the northbound 5 Freeway in Anaheim Wednesday morning, July 16, authorities said.
At about 2:45 a.m., Anaheim police responded to a report that someone was trying to break into a car in the 1400 block of Marlboro Avenue, Sgt. Matt Sutter said.
“As our officers got to the scene, they saw a black sedan leaving at a high rate of speed,” Sutter said. “The officers made the connection that they were probably involved and tried to stop the vehicle, but the driver did not stop.”
A short pursuit led officers southbound on Harbor Boulevard, westbound on Lincoln Avenue and onto the northbound 5, Sutter said. As the suspects approached the Brookhurst Street exit, the driver lost control, causing the car to flip and crash.
The car ended up just beyond the freeway’s shoulder.
The injured men were hospitalized, with one in critical condition.
The dead suspects were not publicly identified, pending notification of their relatives.
The California Highway Patrol was investigating the crash, while Anaheim police were investigating the burglary.
Investigators found video footage allegedly showing the men stealing a different car, then taking it down the street where they had been stripping it for parts when officers arrived, Sutter said.