Suspect in fatal pursuit crash in Southern California escapes hospital

A manhunt is underway in San Bernardino County for a suspect accused of fatally crashing into an innocent motorist as he was attempting to flee an officer with the California Highway Patrol and then escaping custody at the hospital Wednesday.  

The violent and deadly crash occurred in Fontana shortly after 1:15 p.m. when the suspect in a white Jeep Cherokee, who CHP said was traveling at high speeds on the northbound 15 Freeway near Sierra Avenue, fled after initially pulling over to the side of the freeway during the traffic stop.  

The CHP officer returned to his vehicle and tried to catch up to the suspect, who exited at Summit Avenue and continued westbound on Beach Avenue.   

As the Cherokee’s driver approached the intersection of Beach and Cherry avenues, he slammed into a motorist behind the wheel of a red Ford Mustang traveling southbound on Cherry Avenue.   

Footage of the wreckage obtained by KTLA shows severe damage to the Mustang, with the driver’s side of the vehicle cratered, the front wheel bent outward, a crumpled hood and shattered windows.   

The white Jeep Cherokee sustained heavy front-end damage that could be seen smoking before an officer doused it with a fire extinguisher.   

After the violent collision, the suspect driver exited the SUV and attempted to flee on foot. He was quickly apprehended by officers, authorities said.   

Medical personnel with the San Bernardino County Fire Department responded to the scene and declared the driver of the Ford Mustang deceased. 

The suspect, now identified by authorities as 32-year-old Long Beach resident Noe Armando Banuelos, was taken to Arrowhead Regional Hospital in Colton where he somehow escaped custody.