A driver was injured Friday after a police officer struck him with his vehicle at the end of a wild pursuit that began in Colton and ended about three miles away in San Bernardino.
The pursuit began around 12:40 a.m. when police attempted to stop the driver of a white Cadillac Escalade engaging in some suspicious activity with another vehicle, according to police.
The driver of the SUV, identified as 25-year-old Isaac Ornales of San Bernardino, led police on a pursuit that lasted about 15 minutes and ended in the 700 block of J Street, police said.
Residents in the San Bernardino neighborhood say they were awakened in the middle of the night by the wild chase that came to a crashing end.
"I couldn't believe how fast he made it around Bunker Hill. Couldn't believe how he made that turn," said Rick Flores, a resident.
"Once the pursuit was over all we heard was boom!" said Iasha Windfield, another resident.
At the end of the pursuit, Ornelas got out of his vehicle and had a gun, police said. "The officer in fear for his life, drove into the suspect striking him and his vehicle," said Sgt. Vicki Cervantes of the San Bernardino Police Department.
The driver was taken to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in critical condition.
Detectives say they recovered a weapon at the scene and found narcotics on Ornales when he arrived at the hospital.
Nearby streets remained roped off for nearly 10 hours during the investigation.
