Police pursuit ends in crash, closing Fruit and Clinton intersection in Fresno

A man trying to evade a traffic stop for speeding wound up being arrested for felony evading and other charges after a major collision Wednesday morning at North Fruit and West Clinton avenues.

Seth Ireland, 21, was arrested on additional charges of reckless driving and driving without a license, said Fresno police Lt. Mark Hudson. Ireland was taken to a hospital for treatment of his injuries before being booked into jail.

The crash took place about 8 a.m. Hudson said a motorcycle officer was enforcing speed laws near Hamilton Junior High School at North Harrison and Clinton when he tried to stop Ireland.

Ireland sped away westbound but at one point pulled over. As the officer stepped off his motorcycle, Ireland reportedly sped away again. The officer began to pursue but broke off the chase. Hudson said Ireland ran the stoplight at Fruit, and collided with a southbound pickup.

The intersection was closed for several hours as the department’s Collision Reconstruction Unit investigated the collision.

This story was originally published March 6, 2019 at 9:15 AM.