Woman Killed After High-Speed Chase Leads To Fiery Rollover Crash

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — A woman died in a violent rollover crash in Fountain Valley caused by a high-speed police chase, while two other people were hospitalized, authorities said Tuesday.

The crash was reported around 10 p.m. Monday near Ellis Avenue and Magnolia Street, according to the Fountain Valley Police Department.

Police said the events leading to the pursuit started at 7:30 p.m. Monday, when officers went to a home in the 18000 block of Arches Court after hearing reports of arson.

"Investigation revealed because of an ongoing domestic dispute, a known suspect doused a bush adjacent to the home with lighter fluid and lit it on fire," a police statement said. "The fire engulfed the bush in flames and spread to the structure of the home."

The fire was extinguished by residents before officers arrived, police said.

"Using investigative resources, officers located the suspect's unoccupied vehicle, a white Dodge Ram truck, in a parking lot in the 17900 block of Brookhurst (Street) in Fountain Valley," the police statement said."Officers conducted surveillance of the Dodge, and at approximately 10 p.m., the suspect was seen entering the Dodge and drove toward Brookhurst Street," the statement continued.

"Upon seeing marked police cars closing in, the suspect fled southbound Brookhurst at a high rate of speed, and officers initiated a pursuit. The pursuit terminated on Ellis and Magnolia when the Dodge collided with a white BMW X3 in the intersection."

43-year-old Timothy Bradford Cole of Huntington Beach was arrested as a result of the incident. It was not immediately clear what charges he would face.

"Officers ... rendered medical aid to three occupants in the BMW while awaiting paramedics," the statement said. "The pursuit traveled less than a mile in the span of less than a minute.

"Preliminary investigation showed during the pursuit, the suspect drove at a high rate of speed against a red traffic light westbound Ellis through Magnolia and collided with the BMW traveling (southbound) on Magnolia," the statement said.

"The three occupants of the BMW were transported to a local trauma center, and the suspect was transported to a trauma center in Long Beach," the statement said.

"A 25-year-old female passenger from Huntington Beach in the BMW was pronounced deceased on the way to the trauma center," the statement said.

Her name was withheld, pending notification of her relatives.

"The other two victims are listed in critical and stable condition, and the suspect is listed in serious condition with non-life-threatening injuries," the statement said.

Any witnesses or persons with information about the collision were encouraged to call the Fountain Valley Police Department at 714-593-4485.