Man and teen boy injured in crash during CHP pursuit in Southern California

A man and a 17-year-old boy, in a reported stolen vehicle with officers in pursuit, were seriously injured Thursday night, Dec. 5, when the car rolled over on Highway 79 east of Temecula.

The pursuit began shortly before 8 p.m.

California Highway Patrol officers were investigating a collision on Highway 79 near Sage Road a few miles west of Aguanga when a westbound 1995 Honda Accord struck a parked American Medical Response ambulance, the CHP said.

The Accord driver then made a U-turn and headed east. CHP officers caught up to the Accord and tried to pull it over, but the driver sped away, the CHP said.

Several miles later, the Accord struck a dirt embankment on the shoulder near Highway 371 and overturned. The motorists, not wearing seat belts, were ejected, the CHP said.

Officers discovered that the car had been reported stolen on Wednesday, the CHP said.

Both motorists were in critical condition Friday, Officer Mike Lassig said. The CHP does not know the name of the driver, the man.