OCEANSIDE, Calif. (KGTV) – A pickup truck pursued by law enforcement crashed at an Oceanside intersection early Friday morning, killing one person.
San Diego County sheriff’s officials said deputies responded to an alert of a burglary alarm in the 1900 block of Willow Ridge Drive in Vista just before 4:30 a.m. Deputies found a man passed out inside a truck with illegal drugs in the center console and pool equipment in the truck bed.
When deputies woke him up, the man drove away and a short chase ensued. Sheriff's officials say the pursuit lasted only 20 seconds. Shortly after 5 a.m. the truck crashed into a light pole at the intersection of Lake Boulevard and Cannon Road in Oceanside.
Deputies tried to rescue the man, but were unable to reach him due to overwhelming fumes from the chemicals. Vista Firefighters were able to remove the man from the truck, but he did not survive.
No other vehicles were involved in the wreck.
A hazmat crew was called to the scene due to several gallons of chlorine and other swimming pool related chemicals leaking from the damaged vehicle.
ABC 10News learned one deputy was treated at a hospital and released after being exposed to the chemicals.
The intersection was closed through the morning for the clean-up and investigation.
