Anaheim crash claims two lives: a father, a student, and a flight from police
A routine drive home turned tragic Tuesday morning in Anaheim, California, as a high-speed police chase culminated in a devastating multi-vehicle collision that claimed the lives of a 70-year-old man and a 14-year-old student. The incident, occurring near Lincoln Avenue and Anaheim Boulevard, has left a family reeling and investigators piecing together a sequence of events that ended in loss.
The last phone call and a daughter's search
Arlene Viveros, the daughter of Alberto Piedra Viveros, recounted the agonizing moment she learned of her father's death. She spoke with him just minutes before the crash, a conversation she now cherishes as their last. “I still expect him to come home,” she confessed, a sentiment echoing the disbelief and raw grief felt by the Viveros family. Arlene's attempt to retrace her father's route, initially unaware of the crash, underscores the sudden and unexpected nature of the tragedy. The eventual realization – seeing the news report of a 70-year-old victim – delivered a blow of unimaginable force.
A pursuit and a deadly intersection
According to Anaheim Police Department reports, officers initially spotted a silver Infiniti sedan speeding near Cypress Street and Harbor Boulevard around 12:45 a.m. The driver, a 19-year-old whose identity remains undisclosed, allegedly accelerated as officers attempted to initiate a traffic stop. While a formal pursuit was not launched, the vehicle subsequently crashed into four other vehicles at the intersection, including Alberto Viveros’ red Camry. The Infiniti, police believe, was struck by a blue sedan after it ran a red light, creating a chain reaction with fatal consequences.
Two young lives lost
Alongside Alberto Viveros, 14-year-old Andrew Joseph Sanchez, a student at Anaheim High School, was pronounced dead at the scene. Sanchez was a passenger in the Infiniti. Two female students from Katella High School were also present in the backseat, their condition currently unknown. The scope of the tragedy extends beyond the Viveros family, impacting multiple schools and leaving a community in mourning.
Justice and forgiveness: a daughter's plea
Arlene Viveros expressed a complex mix of emotions regarding the 19-year-old driver who initiated the events leading to the crash. While she understandably seeks justice for her father, she also conveyed a profound sense of empathy, reflecting her father’s own character. “I want to be mad, but I also know my dad is a very forgiving person and I feel like he’d be the first person to forgive that kid,” she stated, highlighting a poignant desire for reconciliation amidst immense grief. The driver remains hospitalized and has not yet been formally charged, pending further investigation.
The Anaheim Police Department continues its investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash, a process that will undoubtedly reveal a more detailed account of the events leading to this devastating loss. While the immediate focus remains on the medical care of those injured, the long shadow of this incident will linger over the community.