Just before 2 a.m. Friday morning, CHP began pursuing a suspected drunk driver who was driving Eastbound on Rosedale Highway and Coffee Road. CHP said the male suspect began to accelerate at speeds over 100 mph. The pursuit was brief, as CHP decided discontinue the pursuit due the suspect's "dangerous driving and approaching construction zone."
It came to a deadly ending just over a mile later on the intersection of Mohawk Street and Rosedale Highway. The suspect, who was driving an Audi ran a red light and crashed into a white Toyota Camry. The Camry was making a left turn from the westbound lanes onto Rosedale Highway onto Mohawk Street. CHP said the driver of the Camry was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle.
CHP explained the suspect kept going, veered to the right and crashed into Battery Systems. The front end of the business went up in flames upon contact.
Once CHP arrived, the male suspect was pronounced dead at the scene. The victim was transported to Kern Medical Center where he died hours later.
Retail operations for Battery Systems were suspended for Friday. A spokesman for the owners of the company said damages are estimated at $100,000.
23ABC is waiting on a Coroner's report to release the names of the victims.
