Stolen SUV Crashes Into Car Killing Driver, Injuring Another

FULLERTON, CA —A Monday morning crash killed one and critically injured another, officials say. A driver of what police have said was a stolen car was arrested at the scene, police said.

The crash occurred just before 10 a.m. in front of Charlie's Best restaurant at Euclid Street and Valencia Drive.

A Toyota Highlander, reported stolen from Long Beach, T-boned a 2018 Honda Accord, killing a man who was a passenger in the Honda and critically injuring the driver, who was taken to a hospital with "significant but non-life-threatening injuries," Fullerton police Lt. Jon Radus reported.

Police were notified of a driver who was parked outside of the vehicle, "acting erratically" at Orangethorpe Avenue and Brookhurst.

Though officers responded to the scene, the driver had already fled the area, Radus said. Minutes later, the deadly crash occurred at Euclid and Valencia.
The Highlander's driver was speeding eastbound on Valencia before broadsiding the Accord, Radus said.

Investigators will determine whether the suspected car thief was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, Radus said.

Euclid was expected to remain closed between Commonwealth and West avenues until later this afternoon, as was Valencia between Woods and Basque avenues, during that investigation.