Pittsburg, CA (March 24, 2025) – Vilamalia Polina Tuipulotu, 22, was tragically killed and her fiancé, 23-year-old Beaux Tagaloa, critically injured in a violent crash early Sunday morning involving a driver fleeing from California Highway Patrol officers in Pittsburg, authorities confirmed.
Incident Details: The crash happened around 12:45 a.m. near East Leland Road and Gladstone Drive, as the couple was heading home from a family gathering. A suspect driving a stolen Infiniti—who had been spotted speeding over 100 mph on Highway 4—was fleeing from CHP officers when he exited onto Railroad Avenue and ran a red light before slamming into the couple’s SUV. The crash killed Tuipulotu at the scene and left Tagaloa, a former Cal football player and Diablo Valley College coach, hospitalized in critical condition. The pursuit reportedly lasted less than a minute.
Investigation and Legal Considerations: The incident raises significant legal and public safety questions about police pursuit policies. While many may scrutinize CHP’s decision to pursue the vehicle, legal experts point out that responsibility ultimately lies with the suspect who set the tragic events in motion. Investigators will likely review dash cam footage, pursuit protocols, and whether any procedural violations occurred. Families impacted by police chase collisions may pursue wrongful death claims against at-fault drivers or involved agencies, depending on findings of negligence.
Source: KTVU