Domestic violence suspect flees Fresno police; 3 hurt in high-speed crash

A man fleeing officers after a suspected domestic violence incident collided at high speed with another car early Friday, injuring three in central Fresno. Police reported they were not in pursuit when the crash took place.

The collision scattered car parts across four traffic lanes at Belmont and Cedar avenues, and the driver of a red Toyota Camry, identified as Phillip Lujan, 42, faces charges of domestic violence, reckless driving, and felony evading, said Lt. Paul Cervantes.

Police initially went to the 4400 block of East Donner Avenue, near Cedar and Gettysburg avenues, about 12:42 a.m. where Lujan was leaving a home as officers drove up, Cervantes said. A police helicopter tracked the Camry as Lujan drove to Wishon Avenue in the Tower District, where an officer tried to make a traffic stop. Lujan sped away and the officer did not pursue, police said.

Lujan headed east on Highway 180 at high speed with lights out and exited at Clovis Avenue before driving west on Belmont at a speed of 100 mph, still with lights out and still tracked by the helicopter.

At Cedar, the Camry collided with a southbound Honda Civic with a force that knocked the engine block from the second car. The Honda occupants suffered moderate injuries, but the driver needed to be extracted by firefighters. Lujan sustained moderate injuries.

Cervantes said it was not immediately clear if Lujan was under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The crash came less than three weeks after a fiery wreck at McKiinley and Cedar avenues left three dead. Similar to Friday’s inicident, the March 20 crash was caused by a driver traveling about 100 mph who was fleeing an attempted traffic stop; law enforcement (a Fresno County Sheriff’s deputy) was not in pursuit, police said. Charges in the March 20 case were filed Thursday.

This story was originally published April 9, 2021 at 6:03 AM.