One person was killed and another critically injured Monday in a crash involving an allegedly stolen vehicle in Fullerton, and a suspect was taken into custody.
The crash occurred at 9:51 a.m. in front of Charlie's Best restaurant at Euclid Street and Valencia Drive. Police said the driver of a stolen Toyota Highlander T-boned a Honda Accord, killing a man who was a passenger in the Honda and critically injuring the driver, who was taken to a hospital with "significant but non-life-threatening injuries.''
Fullerton police Lt. Jon Radus said police were initially called at 9:38 a.m. regarding a reckless driver at Orangethorpe Avenue and Brookhurst Road, but before officers arrived, they were notified about a driver "acting erratically'' at Brookhurst and Valencia. The crash occurred minutes later.
The Highlander's driver was speeding eastbound on Valencia before broadsiding the Accord, Radus said. The Highlander was reported stolen out of Long Beach, he said.
Police were investigating whether the suspected car thief was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, Radus said.
Euclid was expected to remain closed between Commonwealth and West avenues for about four hours, as was Valencia between Woods and Basque avenues.
