A man driving a stolen pickup truck was killed early today when he crashed as a Santa Clara County deputy sheriff chased him on Interstate 680 in San Jose, according to the California Highway Patrol.Serves him right. The thief, I mean. Not the officer. It's good when they kick the bucket like that. Saves everybody the expense of incarceration and adjudication. Don't ever run from the police, people. It'll just send some bad ju-ju your way!
The incident began at 1:45 a.m. today when the deputy tried to pull over a 2004 Toyota Tacoma for making an illegal U-turn. The truck entered I-680 northbound at McKee Road and hit more than 90 mph before getting off at Berryessa Road.
``He completely lost control,'' CHP Officer Steve Perea said. ``The driver's side door collided with a tree and literally wrapped itself around the tree. The driver had fatal injuries.''
The deputy also crashed into a tree, and his car caught fire, but he is expected to fully recover from his injuries. The officer got himself out of the car and put out the fire himself before being taken to San Jose Regional Medical Center.
It was only after the accident that police determined the pickup truck had been reported stolen out of Alameda County on Sept. 24.
The CHP didn't immediately release the name of the 29-year-old man who was killed in the wreck.
Good Riddance
MercuryNews.com | 11/09/2005 | Early morning I-680 chase ends in fatal crash: