Authorities have identified the suspect who died in a high-speed police pursuit that ended in a violent crash on the Foothill (210) Freeway in the La Cañada Flintridge area. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed that the deceased was 26-year-old Matyes Getachew.
The pursuit began around 10 a.m. on Friday, following a report of grand theft at a Target store located at 209 W. Ventura Blvd. in Camarillo. Ventura County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the incident and began pursuing Getachew, who was accused of stealing more than $950 worth of merchandise — an amount that classifies the crime as felony grand theft under California law.
Getachew fled the scene in a black Honda SUV, evading deputies as he made his way through Ventura County and into Los Angeles County. At approximately 10:50 a.m., the California Highway Patrol (CHP) took over the chase near the Ronald Reagan (118) Freeway at Balboa Boulevard in Granada Hills, with units both on the ground and in the air tracking the suspect’s movements.
CHP Officer Erik Larsen reported that Getachew was driving at dangerously high speeds, at times exceeding 110 miles per hour. The suspect’s vehicle weaved in and out of lanes as it transitioned onto the eastbound Foothill (210) Freeway, presenting a serious risk to surrounding motorists.
Tragically, around 11 a.m., as the pursuit neared the area just west of the State Route 2 interchange, Getachew’s vehicle collided with the rear right corner of an orange dump truck. The impact tore apart the left side of the SUV, sending debris across the highway and bringing the high-speed chase to a devastating end.
CHP officers quickly responded to the crash and found Getachew unresponsive on the pavement near Ocean View Boulevard, a location where the cities of Glendale, La Cañada Flintridge, and Montrose converge. Officers performed CPR in a desperate attempt to save him, but their efforts were unsuccessful. Los Angeles County Fire Department paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene at 11:18 a.m.
The California Highway Patrol issued a SigAlert at 11:32 a.m. for several lanes of the eastbound Foothill Freeway as well as the transition lanes to the Glendale (2) Freeway. The crash and the investigation that followed caused significant traffic delays, with several lanes remaining closed for hours.
Investigators from the CHP Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team were dispatched to examine the circumstances surrounding the fatal collision. Authorities are working to reconstruct the chain of events, determine the exact speed at the time of the crash, and assess whether any additional factors—such as mechanical failure or driver impairment—may have contributed to the tragedy.
The case remains under investigation, and officials are asking anyone with additional information to contact the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office at 805-654-9511.
Matyes Getachew’s death marks a tragic and violent end to a pursuit that began with a retail theft and escalated into a life-ending crash. While questions remain about what led to Getachew’s actions and state of mind, the incident has reignited public concerns about the risks of high-speed pursuits in densely populated urban areas. Debates continue about how law enforcement agencies can balance the need to apprehend suspects with the safety of the public and officers.
As the community and investigators process the events of Friday morning, this case stands as a stark reminder of how quickly a situation can escalate — and how lives can be lost in a matter of moments.
