A man is in custody after El Cajon officers discovered a dead woman inside the trunk of a car following a police chase which ended in a three-vehicle pile-up on Tuesday, according to authorities.
Following a report of a possible kidnapping around 5 p.m., El Cajon police officers attempted to stop the suspect in his car – a black Hyundai Sonata – by Madison and Magnolia avenues. When the driver refused to stop, officers went on pursuit through El Cajon and Spring Valley.
After cruising through Spring Valley, the driver made their back to El Cajon before smashing into two vehicles near Interstate 8 on North Mollison Avenue. Officers then used a taser to get the driver under control before taking him into custody. His identity has not yet been confirmed.
Following the arrest, officers discovered the body of a 51-year-old woman in the trunk while searching the car. Authorities have yet to provide any details on the woman, how she died, or her connection to the suspect.
According to witnesses, the chase began at the Motel 6 on Montrose Court in El Cajon, ECPD Lt. Joe Crawford has confirmed that the kidnapping call came from a motel close to where the suspect’s car was discovered.
Ian Forbes, a guest at the motel, told NBC 7:
I just heard yelling. I didn’t know what was going on. If it was an accident, they would call the ambulance. If it was an overdose, they would have to care about somebody and wouldn’t put them in the trunk.
The incident is still under investigation by the El Cajon police.
