San Clemente pursuit crash: Innocent person killed after stolen U-Haul slams into car

Car chase with stolen U-Haul ends in deadly crash

A car chase involving a stolen U-Haul van ends in a deadly crash in Orange County.

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. - An innocent person was killed Monday after a suspect in a stolen U-Haul crashed into another vehicle during a brief pursuit in San Clemente, authorities said.

What we know:

Just before 8 a.m., deputies with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a stolen U-Haul. The driver refused to pull over, leading deputies on a short pursuit that ended when the U-Haul collided with an SUV near the intersection of South Ola Vista and Avenida Granada.

The driver of the SUV, 53-year-old Maria Ramirezahmad, of Anaheim, was pronounced dead at the scene, OC Sheriff's Department said. Three passengers in the SUV, all adult females, were taken to the hospital in critical condition, according to the OC Sheriff's Department.

Following the crash, the alleged U-Haul driver – later identified as 39-year-old Mathew Alexander Ronquillo – and passenger – later identified as 56-year-old Gregorio Horacio Trejochavez – ran away from the scene. Deputies later located and arrested both Ronquillo and Trejochavez.

What we don't know:

Officials have not specified the exact charges the suspects will face as the investigation remains ongoing.