Escaped suspect in fatal Southern California pursuit crash back in custody

A pursuit suspect accused of fatally crashing into an innocent motorist as he was attempting to flee in San Bernardino County is back in custody Thursday after escaping law enforcement.

The violent and deadly crash occurred in Fontana shortly after 1:15 p.m. Wednesday 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, it was revealed that the suspect identified as Noe Banuelos of Long Beach had a federal arrest warrant.

The CHP officer returned to his vehicle and tried to catch up to Banuelos who exited at Summit Avenue and continued westbound on Beech Avenue.

As the Cherokee’s driver approached the intersection of Beech 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.

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After the violent collision, the Banuelos 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.

Banuelos escaped custody Wednesday evening after being taken to Arrowhead Regional Hospital in Colton to be treated for injuries he sustained in the crash.

He managed to get away while being transferred by CHP officers from the hospital to a local jail, the CHP stated in an updated news release.

A multi-agency search, with support from the Colton and Rialto Police Departments, eventually located Banuelos on an abandoned golf course near the 400 block of North Pepper Avenue.

Video showed Banuelos in his tattered hospital clothes being taken back into custody around 12:30 a.m. Thursday.

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