Sacramento, CA – In the early hours of Friday, September 25, 2026, a police pursuit ended in a multi-vehicle collision that left a driver critically injured and led to the detention of a 15-year-old girl, according to ABC10.
The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office reports that the pursuit began around 2:12 AM near West El Camino Avenue and Interstate 80.
Authorities said deputies observed a vehicle traveling without its headlights or other lights illuminated and attempted a traffic stop. The driver failed to stop and fled, prompting a pursuit that ended near El Centro Road when the vehicle collided with two other vehicles.
The teenage driver was detained at the scene and transported to a hospital in stable condition before being medically cleared and booked into juvenile hall. The driver of one of the other vehicles was not injured, while the driver of the second vehicle sustained serious injuries and was initially listed in critical condition before improving to stable.
Additional details about the circumstances leading up to the pursuit and any charges against the teenager were not immediately available. The investigation remains ongoing.
Sacramento Car Accidents and Personal Injury Claims
California law requires drivers to obey lawful orders to stop and prohibits fleeing from law enforcement, and a driver who flees a traffic stop and causes a collision may be considered to have committed negligence per se, increasing her share of liability for the resulting injuries. Because the driver here is a minor, California courts generally judge her conduct against the standard of a reasonably careful person of similar age and experience, which could affect how fault is ultimately assessed, though flight from a lawful police stop is a serious departure from ordinary conduct at any age.
Because the driver was a minor at the time of the pursuit, her parents or guardians could also face liability under California’s statutory parental liability law for a minor’s willful misconduct, which is capped at a set damages amount, in addition to any liability the teenage driver herself may bear. The injured drivers may have the right to pursue a personal injury claim against the teenage driver, her parents, or both, which can provide compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages related to the accident.
Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyer
If you or someone you love was injured in an accident like the one described here, near El Centro Road, contact a California personal injury lawyer for any questions or to receive a no-cost, no-obligation case assessment.
