Peninsula Police Pursuit Ends in Tree Crash At 70 MPH: Police, Fire

EAST PALO ALTO, CA – Four people were hospitalized after crashing into a tree at 70 miles per hour while fleeing from cops over the weekend, police and fire officials report. One person was arrested on suspicion of DUI.

Details are limited at this time, but East Palo Alto police confirmed to Patch that the incident happened after a "failure to yield" turned into a pursuit in town on Saturday night around 8:15 p.m.

According to the Menlo Park Fire Protection District, firefighters were called to the scene at Oakwood Drive and Bay Road at 8:19 p.m.

"A reported Nissan [Altima] passenger vehicle occupied by 5 suspects struck a tree at an estimated 70 miles per hour causing significant damage to the vehicle...," according to Fire Chief Harold Schapelhouman.

"Upon the arrival of fire personnel at 8.22 p.m., all 5 suspects were out of the vehicle and in custody," Schapelhouman said. "Of the five, three adults (2 males and 1 female) were determined by fire paramedics as having significant injuries consisting of facial and body trauma and internals pains, 1 female minor was determined to have minor injuries."

Four people were ultimately transported to Stanford Hospital, while a fifth refused treatment, the fire chief said.

Police tell Patch that the incident is under investigation.

– Patch file photo by Renee Schiavone