8 People Hospitalized Following Police Chase, Crash In Murrieta

MURRIETA, CA — Details were released about a multi-vehicle crash Tuesday that forced a road closure at Jackson Avenue and Nutmeg Street in Murrieta and left eight people hospitalized.

According to police, the wreck was caused by a driver who led a chase in a stolen vehicle.

The incident began at 10:50 a.m. when Murrieta police officers spotted a stolen vehicle driven near the intersection of Juniper Street and Jefferson Avenue.

Officers repeatedly tried to pull the driver over but he sped away each time, according to the Murrieta Police Department.

A witness said the vehicle was a white Acura Integra.

"The pursuit continued on city streets, subsequently ending when the suspect vehicle ran a red light at the intersection of Nutmeg Street and Jackson Avenue and collided with three other vehicles," according to the police department.

The driver of the stolen vehicle and his female passenger, along with six other people inside the other crash vehicles, were transported to local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

The driver, Ricardo Avila Perez, 31, of Perris, was arrested on suspicion of evading an officer and causing injury, violating the terms of his postrelease community supervision, possession of methamphetamine for sale, and other pending charges, according to Murrieta police.

The intersection was closed for several hours.

The California Highway Patrol assumed the crash investigation.

Anyone with information about the incident and who has not been contacted by a Murrieta police officer or investigators is asked to contact Traffic Bureau Sgt. Steve Whiddon at 951-461-6323 or swhiddon@murrietaca.gov.