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Published on 10/19/1998 All articles from this issue

One killed, four injured in early-morning chase with police

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Town Crier Staff Report

One driver was killed and four passengers were injured when a car fleeing from Los Altos police and county Sheriff's deputies crashed into a tree early last Friday morning on Magdalena Avenue near Dawson Drive in Los Altos Hills.

According to Santa Clara County Sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Jim Arata, the chase began shortly after 1:30 a.m., when a two-door Mercedes S600 went through a stop sign in Los Altos at the intersection of Springer and Covington roads. Los Altos police officers tried to initiate a traffic stop, but the car sped away doing close to 100 mph, Arata said.

Sheriff's deputies picked up the pursuit as the car crossed into Los Altos Hills, westbound on Magdalena. Arata said, "The driver apparently lost control of the vehicle," after running another stop sign on Magdalena.

Sheriff's officials described all five occupants as men in their early 20s. The driver of the Mercedes was pronounced dead at Stanford Hospital and one passenger was in critical condition at Valley Medical Center. The three other passengers sustained less serious injuries, Arata said.

The driver was identified as Kyle MacDonald, 24, of Los Altos, according to the county coroner. Arata identified the other passengers as Jason R. Cranston, 23, of Los Altos Hills; Matthew P. Bailey, 23, of Los Altos; Ray F. Madrigal, 24, of Los Altos; and Kevin P. Wood, 24, also of Los Altos.

A spokeswoman at St. Francis High School in Mountain View confirmed that Cranston, Bailey and Madrigal all are graduates of the class of 1993.

Investigators are asking anyone who may have witnessed the black Mercedes prior to the accident to call Sheriff's investigator Doug Havig at (408) 867-9719. Arata said the young men may have been in Mountain View prior to the accident.