According to the San Diego Police Department, just before midnight on September 1, 2026, a person reported being involved in a two-car crash near 9th Avenue and E Street, where both vehicles were blocking the roadway.
San Diego, CA – A police officer was injured after his patrol car was hit head-on by a DUI suspect fleeing San Diego police officers Tuesday night.
According to the San Diego Police Department, just before midnight on September 1, 2026, a person reported being involved in a two-car crash near 9th Avenue and E Street, where both vehicles were blocking the roadway.
The reporting party also told authorities that the driver of the other vehicle, a black sedan, appeared intoxicated and was possibly repeatedly falling asleep and waking up.
Police officers responded to the area and located the vehicles, including a gray Chevrolet Malibu facing northbound on the 900 block of 9th Avenue with a woman in the driver’s seat. That woman drove away, leading the officers to a short pursuit through several downtown streets.
The chase ended when the suspect drove the wrong way on C Street and collided head-on with a patrol vehicle not involved in the pursuit at 16th and C Streets. The patrol car overturned several times. The officer had not activated the lights and siren at the time of the crash.
The officer inside the patrol vehicle and the pursuit suspect were transported to nearby hospitals with minor injuries.
The 36-year-old pursuit suspect is expected to face several charges, including evading a peace officer causing serious injury, DUI involving drugs, possession of controlled substance paraphernalia, and hit-and-run related to the initial crash. She also has an outstanding warrant from another agency, the officers reported.