Pasadena, CA – Fernando Octavio Frenes Identified As Suspect in Pursuit That Caused Injuries

Pasadena, CA (April 6, 2019) – Fernando Octavio Frenes, a self-described gang member from Montebello stole a work truck and took police on a car chase from Bell Gardens to Pasadena. The chase ended when he crashed and seriously injured an innocent bystander, a mother of five. The pursuit began when Bell Gardens police took a call from a victim reporting his truck was stolen, and he was following it via GPS.

Frenes, 51, is suspected of auto theft, hit-and-run, evading police and creating serious bodily harm. He also violated his probation from a prior conviction.

While fleeing law enforcement officers in a stolen Chevrolet Silverado, he struck the driver-side of an SUV which was had an innocent woman, Ana Isabel Rodriguez, 60, at the wheel. This incident occurred at Orange Grove Boulevard and Holly Street in Pasadena.

Emergency responders were called to the scene and the woman was taken to the hospital in serious-but-stable condition. Frenes suffered minor injuries before being arrested.

The pursuit began after Bell Gardens police received a call from a man reporting his truck had been stolen, and he was tracking it via a GPS device. Frenes refused to pull over when police came on the scene. He drove at speeds of over 90 mph.

The chase took 35 minutes before ending with the T-bone crash in Pasadena. Frenes is being held without bail.

Our thoughts are with Ana Isabel Rodriguez and her family at this time.  We hope she and everyone who was injured as a result of this crash will be ok.

When You Are A Victim Of A Police Chase

You often hear about police chases, when police vehicles are pursuing suspects in various neighborhoods. But what happens when you encounter one in your own driving? And if such a chase ends up injuring you or your passenger, what happens then? What rights do you have? Over 5,000 bystanders and passengers have been killed and many more thousands have been injured in police car chases.

Who is held liable for injuries? Most insurance policies have exclusions for vehicles which are stolen – and used in a chase. As well, car thieves are unlikely to have auto liability insurance.

For the most part, law officers have the freedom to carry out their job. However, police can have liability for injuries in a crash after a chase.

Police forces have protocols for car chases. These include the area of the chase, the speed of the chase and other items. Such rules state that if the chase is a danger to the public, the police should back off from the suspect behind the wheel.  If they don’t and the chase leads to an accident, police can face liability. Liability is also shared by the suspects in the vehicle that are fleeing from police.

Liability in such cases depends on the individual circumstances, and legal help is imperative. For help with your police chase injury claim, garner the services of an experienced car accident lawyers.

At Brady Law Group, our experienced car accident attorneys have handled a wide variety of cases and are willing to stand by your side when you are feeling overwhelmed with many aspects of this process. We have the resources to help you pursue all negligent parties and work toward the compensation you deserve in your time of need. If you or someone you know has been injured in one of these accidents, we would like to stand by your side. Contact us today to find out what we can do for you at 866-478-6483.

Note: Outside sources were used in the creation of this post including news bulletins and first-hand accounts of the accident and injuries involved. As a result, the details of the accident presented have not been independently verified by our own writing staff. If you have identified any false information in the story, please inform us immediately, and we will adjust the posting to reflect the most accurate content available.

Disclaimer: As a member of the local community, we at Brady Law Group strive to improve the overall safety and quality of life for everyone who lives in our beloved state. We are extremely saddened by these accidents but hope that, through an awareness of these dangers, those in our community will take precautions to avoid these accidents. This is not a solicitation for business, and this information should not be misconstrued as medical or legal advice. We wish only the best and quickest recovery to all those involved in the accident.