Reckless Fresno driver speeds through city before crashing into another vehicle

A pickup driver who was armed with a firearm swerved through central Fresno Wednesday evening at high speed before he collided with another driver, injuring his own passenger and two men in the second vehicle.

Lt. Sky Leibee said the driver first sped away from members of the MAGEC gang unit after officers attempted to pull him over near Maple and McKinley avenues for having tinted windows, a violation of the state vehicle code. Leibee said those officers did not pursue the pickup due to the nature of the traffic stop. But a department helicopter tracked the pickup.

After speeding through a Target parking lot at First Street and Shields avenues, the driver collided with the other vehicle at Shields and Millbrook avenues. Both the driver and the passenger ran from the pickup, but were quickly taken into custody. They went to a hospital for what appeared to be moderate injuries. Two men in the second vehicle were treated at the scene but declined to go to a hospital.

Leibee said members of the MAGEC team would determine what charges the two men in the pickup would face, but said possession of a gun, and being wanted on a felony warrant were among counts on the table.