2 teens ejected from car that flies off California freeway ramp during police pursuit
Two 17-year-olds were ejected from an allegedly stolen car after a pursuit on the 91 Freeway ended when the car crashed and flipped off a freeway ramp, landing in a 24 Hour Fitness parking lot, authorities said.
The pursuit began around 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 26, when officers saw a car stolen out of Corona near Columbia Avenue and the 215 Freeway, in the north end of Riverside, police said. Additional officers were called and police waited for backup before they attempted to pull the car over.
The driver failed to stop and a short pursuit began on the 91 Freeway, Riverside Police Officer Ryan Railsback said.
The pursuit ended when the driver exited Madison Avenue and attempted to re-enter the freeway eastbound, only to lose control at the on-ramp when the car collided with a power box at a high rate of speed.
Both the female driver and her male passenger were ejected after the car veered off the ramp and may have briefly gone airborne before it flipped down the embankment and landed in the 24 Hour Fitness parking lot, according to Railsback.
Both the driver and passenger were hospitalized and are expected to survive the crash, officials said.
The driver will face auto theft and felony evading charges, police said.