SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — The San Diego Police Department says its traffic division has launched an internal investigation into the pursuit that led up to a deadly crash Friday night.
In the incident, San Diego Police investigators said officers began pursuing 20-year-old Angel Salgado when he crashed his car just five minutes after the chase began.
California Highway Patrol says Salgado crashed his car into another vehicle at the off-ramp of Interstate 805 at 43rd Street. CHP says the second car rolled down a hill into a tree, which then landed on the car, and was engulfed in flames. A 4-year-old and 8-year-old boy were killed, and two women were hospitalized in the crash.
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“I think we should all be outraged and disgusted that this situation arose,” Will Moore, from the community group Circulate San Diego, said. Circulate San Diego believes police pursuits for low-level crimes are not worth the risk.
ABC 10News asked the San Diego Police Department what alleged illegal act prompted the pursuit.
SDPD replied in a statement, "Most importantly, we want to remember the young victims of Friday night’s hit-and-run crash on I-805. Our hearts go out to the loved ones of the two children who were killed and the two women who were injured. We understand the public’s desire for answers and justice for these innocent victims. The California Highway Patrol is leading the investigation into the collision. We would defer to them on any questions relating to the investigation. SDPD’s Traffic Division is conducting its own internal investigation of this incident to ensure our policies and procedures were followed."
Salgado was jailed and faces hit-and-run charges.
ABC 10News dug deeper into the police department's policy on pursuits. The policy outlines that when officers are deciding whether or not to chase after a driver, they need to weigh the balance of public safety with the known or suspected offense.
The policy goes on to say officers have, "the responsibility to terminate the pursuit when the benefits of immediate apprehension are outweighed by the hazards of continuing the pursuit."
San Diego County is also no stranger to consequential pursuits. On Sunday night, a sheriff's deputy pursued a driver in Encinitas he suspected was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The sheriff's department says the deputy backed off, but the driver eventually crashed and a 41-year-old man was injured.
The San Diego County Sheriff's Department has a similar pursuit policy to the San Diego Police Department, saying when deputies are engaged in a pursuit, they, "should weigh the seriousness of the violator's suspected crime against the potential for death or injury if the pursuit is continued."
Earlier this year, United States Customs and Border Protection changed its policy on pursuits, limiting the scenarios where an agent can pursue a fleeing driver. This followed several deadly incidents along the border.
Vigil held for crash victims
Family members and friends gathered Monday night at the apartment complex where the two children in last Friday’s crash lived with their family.
At the vigil, more than 100 candles were lit at a makeshift memorial. Posters and pictures, along with toy superheroes and trucks, were also left behind.
The two women in the car who survived the crash remain hospitalized with major injuries.
A GoFundMe campaignwas created to help the boys’ family and funeral expenses.
