Driver Tries To Run People Down At OC Middle School, Police Say

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — A man was arrested after he tried to run over pedestrians at an Orange County middle school before leading officers on a chase that ended when his vehicle flipped in a water channel, authorities said.

The suspect, 39-year-old Nicolas Sanudo, was arrested by the Santa Ana Police Department and booked for assault with a deadly weapon and evading a peace officer.

Officers were dispatched to MacArthur Intermediate School in response to reports that a man was attempting to run over pedestrians in his vehicle at around 4:40 p.m. Tuesday.

When officers arrived to the school on 600 W Alton Ave., they found Sanudo still inside of his vehicle. When officers made contact with him, he drove away and led officers on a pursuit that ended after he drove into a water channel, where his vehicle overturned before catching fire, authorities said.

Sanudo hopped out of his vehicle fled on-foot. Officers eventually found the man hiding in a drainage tunnel inside the water channel.

The motive behind Sanudo's actions is currently under investigation, and anyone with information was asked to call Santa Ana Police at 714-245-8390.