Aerial footage from AIR7 showed the suspect vehicle and two other cars with visible damage. One of the vehicles had crashed into a wall next to a sidewalk.
Fullerton police initiated the pursuit in the city of Fullerton shortly after 12:30 p.m. following a report of a theft at an Albertsons grocery store located in the area of N. Gilbert St. and W. Malvern Ave., the agency said.
The officers tried to pull over the suspect's white Nissan Rogue but the suspect refused, eventually getting onto the westbound 91 Freeway, the Fullerton Police Department said.
Investigators said that while fleeing from officers, the driver of the suspect vehicle, later identified as 43-year-old Anthony Hanzal, of Anaheim, was involved in a non-injury hit-and-run crash near Brookhurst Rd. and Orangethorpe Ave.
Officers lost sight of the suspect. Buena Park police officers briefly located the suspect vehicle but lost sight of it as well.
La Palma police located the white Nissan Rogue in the area of La Palma Ave. and Walker St. and picked up the pursuit, according to authorities. The suspect then crashed into a blue BMW in the area of La Palma Ave. and Moody St.
The driver of the blue BMW, a woman in her 60s, suffered significant injuries and died at the scene. The intersection was closed for the investigation.
The suspect was taken to a local hospital with minor injuries.
Fullerton police had initially said the suspect was traveling with a passenger but that account was later revised and it was not immediately clear if there was a second person inside the suspect vehicle.
Hanzel will be booked on various charges at the Fullerton City Jail, including petty theft, hit-and-run, and felony evading.
The Orange County Sheriff's Department will investigate the fatal traffic collision, which could result in additional charges.