An Oakley police pursuit ended with a death and an arrest in Antioch Tuesday morning, according to police and the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office.
It started around 8:30 a.m., when Oakley police say they tried to pull a car over for running a stop sign, but the driver took off. After a short chase into Antioch, the suspect's car hit a fire hydrant and a power pole and then burst into flames, authorities said.
Police found a person dead in the passenger seat, but the driver had run away, interim Oakley police Chief Sean Fawell. Police later found and arrested the driver, who has minor injuries. His name name has not been released.
East 18th Street in Antioch was closed between Phillips Lane and Wilson Street due to the investigation, said Sheriff's spokesman Jimmy Lee said.
Oakley police working a pursuit that ended in a fatality. Details later.
— CoCo Sheriff PIO (@cocosopio) December 15, 2015Rick Cook, a manager at Mac's Old House at 3100 E. 18th St., said the crash occurred shortly before 8:30 a.m. A car traveling west on East 18th Street hit a power pole and fire hydrant and light pole and then exploded into flames, Cook said.
Cook, who heard the crash and three explosions and spoke to investigators at the scene, said he understood the driver of the vehicle ran from the car before it blew up. Power lines were down in the area but Cook said the restaurant has not lost power.
While the road closure means the restaurant will miss its usual 11:30 a.m. opening time, Cook remained philosophical.
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"Somebody's dead," he said. "I think that trumps us."
Bay City News contributed to this report.
