Innocent driver dead, 2 men arrested after stolen U-Haul crashes into SUV in San Clemente chase

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. (KABC) -- A wild chase involving a U-Haul came to a tragic end in San Clemente on Monday morning.

Deputies were chasing a stolen U-Haul when it crashed into another vehicle, killing an innocent woman and injuring three others, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Department.

The deadly crash happened just before 8 a.m. near South Ola Vista and Avenida Granada.

A quiet San Clemente street is now at the center of a crime scene after a suspect fleeing from sheriff's deputies collided with a Mazda SUV with the four adults inside.

The driver of the SUV, identified as 53-year-old Maria Ramirezahmad of Anaheim, was pronounced deceased at the scene. Three other adult women in the SUV were taken to the hospital in critical condition.

"All of a sudden we heard like an engine rev like crazy, crazy loud in a really quiet residential area," said witness Lafe Isaacson.

Isaacson was working at a coffee shop nearby just before 8 a.m. when he witnessed the chase with the Orange County Sheriff's Department.

Deputies reportedly saw a suspicious U-Haul van with two people inside and no license plates, only about half a mile away from the crash site. When they tried to pull the van over, the driver refused to stop and took off at a high rate of speed.

Deputies pursued the van, and less than a minute later, the U-Haul collided with the Mazda, the sheriff's department said. Authorities later learned the truck was reported stolen out of Whittier.

"We saw like a brand new U-Haul come flying right by, literally right here, and then a horrendous crash noise, and then the sheriff flew right by as well," Isaacson recalled.

"There's just a big bang, kind of woke me up out of bed," said Tyler Mastracchio, who lives right behind the crash site.

He watched as the passenger inside the U-Haul stayed at the scene, while the driver fled on foot through his alley.

Sheriff's deputies with guns drawn searched the area, while the suspect ended up half a mile away in a neighborhood east of the 5 Freeway.

"I went outside, and I looked around, and this little guy walked by. He was about this big," said neighbor John Mastroianni. Neighbors called 911.

"Our deputies responded, and he was apprehended with the use of a police K-9. He is also being evaluated for his injuries before being booked into the Orange County Intake Relief Center," said Sgt. Gerard McCann with the Orange County Sheriff's Department.

The passenger of the stolen U-Haul who remained at the scene was identified as 56-year-old Gregorio Horacio Trejochavez of La Habra. The sheriff's office said he was treated at the hospital and later booked into the Orange County Jail for a probation violation.

The driver who fled was identified as 39-year-old Mathew Alexander Ronquillo of Cerritos. After receiving treatment at the hospital, he was booked "for crimes related to felony evasion, felony evasion causing great bodily injury or death, felony hit and run, gross vehicular manslaughter and possession of a stolen vehicle."

As the criminal investigation into the fatal crash continues, the community surrounding the scene is mourning.

"This is the wildest thing that's happened that I've heard of around here. It is really sad," said Paul Harrison.

"My heart goes out to the family. I feel so bad for them," Mastracchio said.

An Eyewitness News crew at the scene watched as several members of Ramirezahmad's family showed up at the scene, devastated by what they saw.

Eyewitness News asked what, if anything, was found inside the U-Haul van, but the sheriff's department said that is still part of the investigation.