Car pursued by deputies crashes in Garden Grove; 2 killed, 1 seriously injured

A car pursued by deputies from Stanton to Garden Grove crashed into a fire hydrant then a tree Thursday, July 31, leaving two men dead and third seriously injured.

Deputies near Katella Avenue and Beach Boulevard observed a Toyota Camry bearing license plates registered to a different year-model of the same car, Orange County Sheriff’s Lt. Nathan Wilson said. They attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but the driver sped eastbound on Katella, then southbound on Magnolia Street.

When the vehicle reached the intersection of Magnolia and Chapman, the driver of the vehicle lost control and collided with a tree, Wilson said.

There were three people inside the car. One passenger died at the scene of the crash and another man died at a hospital, Sheriff’s Spokeswoman Carrie Braun said. A third occupant of the vehicle remained hospitalized in critical condition Thursday evening. The names of the men who died were not immediately releaed.

A portion of Magnolia Ave south of Chapman was shut down Thursday evening as authorities conducted an investigation nearby. A fire hydrant was also knocked loose in the collision, sending water up into the air and down onto the roadway near Zeyen Elementary School and Hare High School.