Multi-Car Crash After Police Pursuit Sends 5 To Hospital

SANTA ANA, CA — Five people were hospitalized after a police pursuit across Orange County ended in a horrific crash, Santa Ana Police said. Both the suspect and another driver were both listed in critical condition Wednesday, according to officials.

In the early morning hours, a Santa Ana police officer observed a driver of a Honda Civic committing multiple traffic violations. They attempted to conduct a traffic stop. Instead, the driver "took off, with the officer in pursuit," Santa Ana Police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said.

The chase started on 17th Street and continued as it becomes Westminster Avenue, according to Bertagna.

The Honda's driver, Luis Enrique Ortiz, ran a red light at Westminster and Euclid Avenue and slammed into a Toyota SUV, which was southbound on Euclid, Bertagna said.

The driver of the SUV, who is in her 40s, was taken to an area hospital in critical condition, he said.

Another woman in the front passenger seat of the Honda, as well as two men in the backseat, were all transported for hospital treatment of injuries of unspecified severity, Bertagna said.

Police found drug paraphernalia in the Honda, according to Bertagna.

Police expect to book Ortiz on suspicion of felony evading causing injury and other charges once he is medically cleared, Bertagna said. He said Ortiz had an outstanding warrant for felony evading out of Los Angeles County.