Stolen Car Chase Ends In Pedestrian Accident

A pedestrian was violently struck and killed by a police cruiser chasing a stolen vehicle last Tuesday night in West Sacramento.

According to the Sacramento Police Department, officers had been chasing a vehicle stolen by a 17 year old down West Capitol Avenue near Pine Street when a pedestrian, 31 year old Brandon Louis Nickolas, made his way into the road and was struck at high speed.

Witnesses to the accident reported that the police cruiser had its lights on and siren screaming at the time of the impact, which was so severe that the body of the pedestrian was severed in two.

“It was definitely bad. I was watching a movie when I heard the bang,” said Adam Elder, a resident who lives by the intersection of West Capitol and Pine. “I decided to come out here, but I did not want to see it.”

An investigation and autopsy of the pedestrian has since revealed that the man was drunk and staggering through the area before the accident, and he appears to have stumbled out onto the road under the heavy influence of alcohol.

Despite the terrible accident, the teen driver was still apprehended after he crashed into a parked car in the 1900 block of Maryland Avenue and the car’s owner pinned him until police arrived, and he was booked in Yolo County juvenile custody on suspicion of auto theft and murder.

It was initially reported that because the teen was responsible for the car chase, he could also be considered responsible for the pedestrian’s death. However, in court on Thursday Yolo County DA’s officials chose not to pursue a murder filing, instead charging the teen with vehicle theft, felony possession of stolen property, misdemeanor allegations of evading a police officer, resisting arrest, and driving without a license.

The officer who struck and killed Nickolas is currently on paid administrative leave pending an internal review and investigation by the California Highway Patrol.

If you or someone you know has been involved in a dangerous accident like this where serious damage has been inflicted upon you, help is available to you. High speed accidents like these can inflict major injuries that can take years and tens of thousands of dollars to repair. Fortunately, through the help of a well-qualified Sacramento car accident lawyer, you can earn compensation to cover those high costs.

At AA Accident Attorneys, we can help you get the justice you deserve, and help you win settlement from those who are at fault in your accident. As always, we will never charge you for our legal services until your case has been won. Call our accident lawyers today for a free evaluation and to learn what options are available to you!

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