By SDCNEWS Editor
Escondido, CA–Four people were arrested Friday in connection with a stolen vehicle that crashed into a restaurant in Escondido, authorities said.
At the time of the collision the stolen Subaru Forester was occupied by six people. Two adult males, two adult females and two young children ages three and five, according to Escondido police.
Hans Velasquez, 20 of Oceanside was identified as the driver and was arrested a short distance away after fleeing from the collision on foot. Velasquez was arrested for carjacking, felony driving under the influence of alcohol, felony hit-and-run, and felony child endangerment.
Anthony Quezada, 19, of Escondido, also fled the scene on foot and was arrested and charged with carjacking. The two adult females in the vehicle were transported to area hospitals for minor injuries. The two children were transported to Rady Children’s Hospital and have minor injuries.
The two men carjacked a person at knifepoint in Oceanside and stole the Subaru. Later in the evening, at 10:15 p.m., an unrelated motorist in Escondido called 9-1-1 to report the driver of the Subaru was swerving and was possibly driving under the influence of alcohol.
While on the 9-1-1 call and before police were dispatched, the witness saw the Subaru run the red light at Fig Street and Valley Parkway and collide with a Toyota pick-up truck. Escondido Fire paramedics provided medical aid at the scene for multiple patients.
The driver of the Toyota truck was ejected from his vehicle and sustained life-threatening injuries. He was transported to Palomar Medical Center for medical treatment. After colliding with the truck, the Subaru collided into Frida’s Tacos at 675 E. Valley Parkway, a corner business at the intersection. The restaurant was occupied but there were no reported injuries to customers or staff.
The investigation is ongoing.
