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On February 2, the city of Santa Cruz, California, police department received a request for assistance from the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Department. A paroled ex-convict had stolen an SUV and was leading sheriff's deputy Stefan Fish on a wild chase. The fugitive had a history of weapons possession, narcotics violations, and assault with a deadly weapon, and was therefore considered dangerous.
Lieutenant Rudy Escalante sent Officer Carter Jones and Reserve Officer Scott Christie to assist the sheriff's deputy. They joined sheriff's deputies and California Highway Patrol officers in chasing the fleeing SUV from the Santa Cruz yacht harbor to Soquel Village, where the driver began speeding toward a mountain summit. While swinging widely around a curve, the parolee careened into the path of a family van, and the vehicles collided. Inside the van were two adults and two young children. The SUV burst into flames, which shot 30 feet into the air, igniting the van and trapping the family inside.
Reserve Officer Christie told the San Jose Mercury News that he was aware that the van could explode, but did not ...