Police chase ends with fire hydrant collision

By Jeremy Herb

A man sideswiped a car and crashed into a fire hydrant a block from campus during a police chase on Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.

The silver 1995 Mitsubishi Galant crashed into a fire hydrant on the corner of Benton Street and The Alameda at around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, after police chased the driver from Monroe Street and El Camino Real, said Lt. Mike Sellers, a Santa Clara police spokesman.

The car was initially flagged down for expired registration tags, but it did not stop, Sellers said. Police chased the car through streets near campus, including Homestead Road, Market Street, Lafayette Street and Benton Street.

The Mitsubishi lost control at the Benton and Alameda intersection before hitting another car, causing minor damage. After the car crashed into the hydrant, police removed the driver at gunpoint and he was taken to a hospital for precautionary measures, Sellers said.

Police arrested 40-year-old Jose Hermosillo, a San Jose resident, on suspicion of methamphetamine possession and evading police, Sellers said.

The chase reached speeds of 40 mph, Sellers said, and lasted for one to two minutes. The fire hydrant flooded the street for about 20 minutes after the crash.

Contact Jeremy Herb at (408) 554-4546 or jmherb@scu.edu.