Published: August 1, 2026
By: Yaghmai Law Firm, APC
(Pomona, CA) – A driver died early Wednesday morning after a pursuit that began in San Bernardino County ended with a car striking a palm tree outside a Pomona apartment complex, according to authorities.
The pursuit started around 1:30 a.m. after sheriff's deputies attempted to stop a car that was being driven without its headlights on, authorities said. Investigators reported that the vehicle reached speeds of about 120 mph at points during the chase and was likely moving near 80 mph along Towne Avenue when it passed over a railroad crossing and hit the palm tree.
Items recovered from inside the car, including safety vests, shoes and canned drinks, were left scattered across the crash scene, according to the report. The impact also damaged an apartment gate along what a resident described as the only way into and out of the complex.
Authorities said it was not immediately known why the driver did not pull over. California Highway Patrol Capt. Lance Berns said officers often do not know a person's reason for fleeing. "Sometimes, when we chase people, we have no idea why they're running," Berns said, adding that such cases sometimes involve criminal activity investigators are not yet aware of and that this incident remained under investigation.
Towne Avenue in the area stayed closed later Wednesday morning, according to the report.
Know Your Rights After a Crash
After a serious crash, California law gives injured people and families limited time to act. Evidence like vehicle data, camera footage, and witness memories fades quickly. A free, no-obligation case review can help you understand your options. Call or text (888) 800-6731, or start a free case review online. Asistencia en español disponible.
Analysis of the Pomona Pursuit Collision
A fatal single-vehicle crash at the end of a police pursuit raises a distinct set of legal questions, and any analysis here is general and conditional because the facts remain under investigation. When a crash results in death, investigators and any civil review typically begin with the ordinary duty of care that California law places on every driver. Under Civil Code section 1714(a), a person is responsible for harm caused by a lack of ordinary care, subject to the degree to which an injured person contributed to their own harm.
Speed is often central in pursuit cases. California's Basic Speed Law, Vehicle Code section 22350, prohibits driving faster than is reasonable and prudent for conditions, and the maximum-speed provisions of Vehicle Code section 22349 set default limits absent a posted higher figure. If evidence establishes that a vehicle was traveling well above safe speeds, a reviewer might consider whether that bears on causation. Where a statutory violation is shown to have proximately caused the kind of harm the statute guards against, Evidence Code section 669 allows a rebuttable presumption of negligence.
Conduct during a pursuit can also implicate the evading statutes. Vehicle Code section 2800.1 addresses willfully fleeing a pursuing officer, and Vehicle Code section 2800.2 addresses fleeing with willful or wanton disregard for safety. Because the driver here did not survive, the criminal framework is largely academic, but the same facts investigators gather may inform how any civil dispute over fault is analyzed under California's comparative-fault rule, Civil Code section 1431.2, which allocates non-economic damages by each party's share of responsibility.
What Families Can Do
Families facing a sudden death in a crash like this have both practical steps and legal deadlines to keep in mind. Obtaining the official collision report, preserving any physical evidence and vehicle data, and documenting losses can matter later. California law recognizes survival claims under Code of Civil Procedure section 377.30 and wrongful-death claims by eligible heirs under Code of Civil Procedure section 377.60, and most personal-injury actions carry a two-year filing deadline under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1, with the measure of any recoverable damages set by Civil Code section 3333. Where a public entity may be involved, shorter deadlines can apply, so timing is important. If you have lost a loved one or been hurt in a crash and want to understand your options, Were you, or someone you love, involved in this crash? A Pomona Car Accident Lawyer at Yaghmai Law Firm can explain your options and deal with the insurance companies for you. Call or text (888) 800-6731 or request a free case review.
About the Author
Houtan Yaghmai, Esq., President & Managing Attorney of Yaghmai Law Firm, APC. California State Bar No. 298487. Speaks English, French, and Persian. The firm represents personal injury clients throughout Southern California – consultations by phone, text, or video, no office visits required.
This post was assembled with AI assistance from publicly reported news sources cited below. All California Vehicle Code references were verified against leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. Facts were re-checked via additional web searches before publication. This post is based on initial news reports and may be updated as new facts develop. Nothing in this article is legal advice. Yaghmai Law Firm, APC is not associated with the investigating agencies and does not represent any party named in this post unless explicitly stated.
Sources:
1. RSS_NBCLA – Driver killed in crash into palm tree at end of high-speed Pomona chase: https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/socal-police-chases/driver-killed-pomona-pursuit-crash/3923286/
