SUNNYVALE (BCN) — Two men accused of robbing a man in San Francisco’s Visitacion Valley neighborhood late Monday night allegedly led officers on a pursuit that ended in a fatal crash in Sunnyvale.
A passenger in the vehicle, 18-year-old San Francisco resident Amari Brown-Glaspie, died in the crash, according to the Santa Clara County medical examiner’s office.
A second suspect, Zain Dadabhai, 19, was arrested on suspicion of fleeing from police, causing serious bodily injury, driving under the influence of drugs and vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, police said.
The robbery happened near Sawyer and Visitacion streets around 11:50 p.m when two suspects got out of a four-door white sedan and approached a 24-year-old man, police said.
One of the suspects aimed a handgun at the victim and the other took his property, before both left the scene in the car, according to police.
The victim quickly reported the robbery and gave a description of the suspects and their vehicle.
The vehicle was seen near Fisherman’s Wharf and officers tried to conduct a traffic stop, but Dadabhai allegedly sped away. The officers pursued, but lost sight of the vehicle near the South Beach neighborhood,
police said.
Other officers then spotted the vehicle on southbound Highway 280 and pursued it to southbound Highway 101, police said.
The more than 100 mph chase continued down the Peninsula, where California Highway Patrol units pursued the vehicle on to southbound state Highway 85 and state Highway 237.
Dadabhai exited the freeway at Grant Road in Mountain View and allegedly drove on city streets at speeds of between 70 to 80 mph.
He turned on to East Fremont Avenue in Sunnyvale, where he sped into a parking lot and lost control of the vehicle near Eleanor Way, according to the CHP.
The Honda crashed into a cement light pole, then crashed into five cars parked outside The Patio bar. Brown-Glaspie was ejected from the car that overturned. He landed on a sidewalk and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Emergency crews helped Dadabhai out of the driver’s seat and transported him to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose for minor injuries.
The suspect driver was treated and booked into Santa Clara County Jail, where he’s being held without bail.
Anyone who witnessed the chase or crash is asked to call CHP Officer James Blunt at (650) 369-6261.
Tips can also be made to San Francisco police at (415) 575-4444 or by text message to TIP411 with “SFPD” at the start of the message.