Hit-and-run San Jose street-racing crash sends suspect, victim to hospital: police

A street race in San Jose late Thursday night led to a hit-and-run chain-reaction crash that sent one of the drivers and another motorist to the hospital, police said Friday.

The hit-and-run driver was racing his green Ford pickup against another vehicle eastbound on Moorpark Avenue near Saratoga Avenue just before 11 p.m., San Jose police said. After losing control of the vehicle, the driver rear-ended a Ford Crown Victoria that was making a right turn into an apartment complex, police said.

“The force of the collision caused the Ford truck to collide with three parked cars and land on its roof,” said San Jose police spokeswoman Officer Gina Tepoorten. “The Ford Crown Victoria then collided with an additional parked car.” The suspect immediately fled the scene on foot, Tepoorten said.

Police quickly found and arrested the suspect nearby, she said. The suspect and the driver of the Ford were both taken to hospital with injuries not considered life threatening, Tepoorten said. After being medically cleared, the suspect was booked into jail.

Alberto Esquivas, 18, faces possible charges of felony hit and run, driving while under the influence and causing injuries, reckless driving and driving without a license, police said.

The other vehicle in the street race drove away from the scene and the driver has not been identified, Tepoorten said.

In a previous incident, in downtown San Jose, a hit-and-run driver killed a pedestrian early Thursday morning.

About 50 hit-and-run incidents occur in San Jose per week, in which vehicles hit other vehicles, pedestrians or cyclists.

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