A routine traffic stop near the 160-block of South Main Street in Milpitas escalated into a high-speed pursuit and a severe intersection collision last Saturday when a driver refused to pull over, ran a red light at S. Main Street and Serra Way, and crashed into an oncoming vehicle lawfully entering the intersection. The occupants of the struck vehicle were transported to a local hospital; although their injuries were initially feared to be life-threatening, authorities later confirmed they suffered non-life-threatening injuries and are expected to recover, with quick medical response provided at the scene by the Milpitas Fire Department.
According to the Milpitas Police Department, an officer initially spotted the vehicle driving recklessly and activated emergency lights. Instead of stopping, the driver accelerated away at high speed before blowing through the red light. Upon searching the suspect’s vehicle, officers discovered a large quantity of new apparel with retail price tags still attached, which investigators determined was stolen during a felony theft in Sunnyvale. The driver identified as a 20-year-old from Fresno was arrested and booked into the Santa Clara County jail on charges including felony evasion causing serious injury, reckless driving, and additional traffic violations, with further theft-related charges anticipated from a neighboring agency.
Under California Vehicle Code Section 2800.3, evading an officer while causing serious bodily injury is a wobbler punishable as a felony carrying up to seven years in state prison and $10,000 in fines. Furthermore, California Penal Code Section 490.4 permits organized retail theft involving multiple items intended for resale to be prosecuted as a felony carrying up to a three-year prison sentence.
This incident coincides with an intensified regional crackdown across Santa Clara County against organized retail theft rings operating across municipal boundaries. Initiatives include the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office’s specialized High Impact Team backed by $11.7 million in state grant funding which made nearly 240 arrests and recovered over $815,000 in merchandise by July 2025. Additionally, the California Highway Patrol’s Golden Gate Division recently conducted regional retail operations yielding 11 arrests and $54,569 in recovered goods. Locally, the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office launched a camera-integration initiative last year, and Milpitas police have previously intercepted retail theft suspects at locations such as the Great Mall and Marshalls.
Operating under Police Chief Jared Hernandez from headquarters at 1275 N. Milpitas Blvd., the Milpitas Police Department serves a population exceeding 60,000 residents with roughly 86 sworn officers. Following Saturday’s collision, the department issued a reminder emphasizing that fleeing from law enforcement recklessly endangers innocent lives.
