Fountain Valley, California — A 25-year-old woman was killed in a crash in the Fountain Valley chase that ended after a police pursuit on Monday, Dec. 2. The incident began when officers responded to an arson report at around 7:30 p.m.
Police discovered that a suspect had set fire to a bush near a home, which then spread to the house. The residents managed to extinguish the fire before authorities arrived.
Upon investigating, officers found the suspect’s abandoned truck in a nearby parking lot. They observed him returning to the truck and driving toward Brookhurst Street. As police approached, the suspect fled at high speed, prompting a brief chase. Less than a minute later, the suspect ran a red light and collided with a white BMW at an intersection, police said.
The collision resulted in severe injuries to three people in the BMW, one of whom, 25-year-old Hong Ngoc Nguyen, was pronounced dead at the hospital. The other two passengers, whose conditions remain critical and stable, were also taken to a nearby trauma center.
The suspect, a 43-year-old man from Huntington Beach, was arrested after the crash. He sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was also hospitalized. Police are still investigating and expect to file charges on Dec. 5.
This heartbreaking loss has left the victim’s family and loved ones devastated. The community mourns the senseless tragedy and extends its deepest sympathies to all affected.
