Simi Valley, CA – On April 21, 2025, at approximately 8:24 p.m., a SVPD Traffic Officer observed a vehicle fail to stop at a posted stop sign at the intersection of Simi Town Center Way and Jefferson East.
When the officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop, the driver turned off the vehicle’s headlights and fled southbound on Erringer Road. A vehicle pursuit was initiated and lasted approximately two minutes, during which the suspect ran several red lights while continuing southbound.
The pursuit ended at Erringer Road and Covington Avenue when the suspect’s vehicle collided with a parked car. The driver was identified as Juan Angel Martinez-Martinez, a 23-year-old resident of Los Angeles.
At the time of the pursuit and crash, Martinez-Martinez had three passengers in the vehicle: his mother, his brother, and his 10-year-old sibling. The 10-year-old sustained a fractured arm and additional injuries and was transported to a nearby hospital by AMR personnel. The other three occupants were also transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of minor injuries.
Martinez-Martinez was taken into custody and arrested on multiple felony charges, including:
- Evading a peace officer causing injury (2800.3 VC)
- Reckless driving while evading (2800.4 VC)
- Evading a peace officer - three or more vehicle code violations (2800.5 VC)
- Child endangerment (273a(a) PC)
He was later booked at the Ventura County Main Jail on the listed charges.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) responded to the scene and is handling the traffic collision report. A SVPD Traffic Officer is leading the ongoing investigation.
This incident serves as a reminder of the dangers posed by reckless driving and fleeing from law enforcement, particularly when minors are endangered.
