Suspects in deadly O.C. pursuit crash that killed innocent woman identified

Two suspects arrested in connection with a deadly pursuit and crash that killed an innocent woman and hospitalized three other victims in San Clemente Monday have been identified. Just before 8 a.m., deputies in San Clemente attempted a traffic stop on a stolen U-Haul, but the driver, now identified as 39-year-old Cerritos resident Matthew Alexander Ronquillo, reportedly refused to comply and attempted to evade deputies with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. “It was a pursuit. What initiated it was deputies investigating what they believed to be a suspicious vehicle,” said OCSD Sgt. Gerard McCann. “One of the reasons that I understand they believed it was suspicious is because the vehicle had no license plates. When they tried an attempt to stop that for that violation, that’s when the vehicle fled. The vehicle took off at a high rate of speed. It was later determined that it was stolen.” Investigators said that when Ronquillo accelerated away from the 300 block of Avenida Granada, he collided with the driver of an SUV less than a half mile away at the intersection of Avenida Granada and Ola Vista. “The driver of the SUV, Maria Ramirezahmad, 53 years old of Anaheim, was pronounced deceased at the scene,” OCSD officials said in a news release. “Three passengers in the SUV, all adult females, were transported to the hospital in critical condition.” A passenger in the crashed U-Haul, 56-year-old La Habra resident Gregorio Horacio Trejochavez, remained and the scene. He was rushed to the hospital and was later booked at the Orange County Jail for a probation violation. His condition was not immediately available. Ronquillo, according to investigators, fled the U-Haul after the crash, but was reportedly spotted a short time later running across the 5 Freeway, prompting deputies to set up a perimeter in the area to prevent him from escaping. “The Orange County Sheriff’s helicopter “Duke” located Ronquillo and directed deputies to his location.” sheriff’s officials said. “A Sheriff’s K9 was used to apprehend Ronquillo.” Once in custody, he was taken to the hospital for treatment of unknown injuries before being into the Orange County Jail on numerous charges, including felony evasion causing great bodily injury or death, felony hit-and-run, gross vehicular manslaughter and possession of a stolen vehicle. Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Orange County Sheriff’s Department at 714-647-7000. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call the Orange County Crime Stoppers Hotline at 855-TIP-OCCS or leave tips online at www.ocsheriff.gov/occrimestoppers.