PITTSBURG (KRON) — A victim has been identified after being struck and killed by a driver fleeing from police in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, according to the The Contra Costa County coroner’s office Wednesday.
The woman is identified as 65-year-old Linda Cochran, by the Contra Costa coroner’s office.
The incident began around 7:45 a.m. Tuesday when a Pittsburg police officer saw a suspect speeding on eastbound West Leland Road.
The suspect was later identified as Aroldo Vela-Chavez, 26, of Concord, , according to police.
When the officer tried to pull over the vehicle, Vela-Chavez allegedly accelerated and headed into heavy commute traffic, prompting the officer to call off the pursuit, police said.
Less than a mile away, at West Leland and Golf Club roads, Cochran was struck while walking along a sidewalk. Vela-Chavez’s vehicle then crashed through the fence at Delta View Golf Course, according to police.
The victim, a Pittsburg resident, was pronounced dead at the scene.Vela-Chavez allegedly continued onto the golf course before abandoning the vehicle on foot.
He was later found and taken into custody several blocks away on Dover Way, police said.
He was driving on a suspended license for a prior DUI arrest and was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of murder, vehicular manslaughter and evading police, police Capt. Ron Raman said.
Police are still investigating whether impaired driving played a role in the case.