An Orange County man, initially accused of theft, is now facing a slew of serious charges after a tragic incident that unfolded during a police chase ended in the death of another driver.
It all started in Fullerton, near North Gilbert Street and West Malvern Avenue, where a detective reportedly saw a man, later identified as 43-year-old Anthony Hanzal from Anaheim, committing theft. Hanzal quickly left the area in a white Nissan Rogue, but the police were hot on his trail.
When officers tried to pull him over, Hanzal decided to flee, leading them on a high-speed chase. During the pursuit, he was involved in a minor hit-and-run crash near Brookhurst Road and Orangethorpe Avenue, but no one was injured in that incident. At this point, police briefly lost sight of his vehicle when it exited at Knott Avenue.
The chase continued as authorities in Buena Park spotted the car but lost track of it again. A little while later, officers in La Palma found the vehicle and resumed the pursuit. The chase came to a devastating end near La Palma Avenue and Moody Street when Hanzal’s car collided with a blue BMW driven by a woman in her 60s.
The crash was severe. The woman suffered major injuries and, heartbreakingly, she was pronounced dead at the scene. Hanzal’s car was disabled in the collision, and the police were finally able to apprehend him. He was injured and taken to a nearby medical center for treatment.
Once he’s released from the hospital, Hanzal is expected to face charges of hit-and-run, felony evading police, and petty theft. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department has taken over the investigation into the fatal crash, and additional charges might be on the way.
This tragic event has left many in the community shaken, serving as a grim reminder of the dangers of reckless behavior and the irreversible consequences it can have.
