By Sarah Ravani
San Francisco Chronicle
SUNNYVALE, Calif.— A 54-year-old San Jose man fleeing police was killed Monday night when he jumped out of his car on Highway 101 in Sunnyvale and ran into the path of a vehicle, officials said.
The fatal 16-minute chase began about 9:50 p.m., when Santa Clara County sheriff’s deputies spotted the man sitting in a 1998 Toyota Avalon at a gas station on Commercial Street in San Jose, officials said. When deputies approached the driver to question him about why his car had a broken windshield and paper license plates, he put the vehicle in reverse, struck the patrol car and took off, said Sgt. Rich Glennon of the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies and responding backup officers chased the driver, who made several attempts to hit patrol cars, Glennon said.
During the pursuit, the suspect blew out one of his car’s tires, but that didn’t stop him, Glennon said.
The pursuit continued onto northbound Highway 101, where the driver crashed into the center median near Fair Oaks Avenue in Sunnyvale, Glennon said.
The suspect got out of his car, hopped the center divider, ran into the southbound lanes and was struck by a 2015 Toyota Prius driven by a 45-year-old woman, officials said.
California Highway Patrol officers began to apply first aid on the gravely injured man until paramedics arrived and took him to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, where he died. His name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
No other injuries were reported.
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