06.02.2019 | 1:41 AM | TUSTIN – A man who fled from police was dead after a fiery crash, early Sunday morning.
Authorities attempted to stop a blue Hyundai Veloster traveling at high-speeds on the northbound SR-55 around 1:20 AM.
The driver of the vehicle failed to yield to officers, leading them on a short pursuit that reached speeds of 100+ MPH. Officers eventually called off the pursuit due to the dangerous speeds and conditions of the pursuit.
Shortly after at 1:41 AM officers began to receive reports of a solo crash involving a similar vehicle on the northbound I-5 Freeway transition road to the southbound SR-55 Freeway.
Units arriving on scene located the vehicle engulfed in flames on an embankment just off the freeway transition road.
A Tustin Police Department sergeant who responded to the crash pulled the 26-year-old driver from the burning wreckage before it became fully engulfed.
Firefighter paramedics arriving on scene pronounced the male driver deceased from obvious trauma and quickly extinguished the vehicle fire before it could spread to nearby brush.
Initial reports indicate the vehicle entered the transition road at extremely high-speeds, failed to negotiate the turn or brake, and slammed into a guardrail before becoming airborne and landing on its roof against a tree.
Debris from the spectacular crash was strewn across multiple lanes resulting in several flat tires to passing motorists.
The transition road was closed until further notice while crews worked to repair the damage guardrail and traffic control signs.
