One Dead, Two in Critical Condition Following Danville Police Pursuit

The Danville Police Department and the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office are investigating an early morning police pursuit that ended with a serious injury crash.

Police Chief Steve Simpkins said the incident began at 1:09 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 29, 2015 on Sycamore Valley Road near the southbound entrance ramp to I-680. Danville Police Officers Valerie Murillo and Emily Neabeack observed a white four-door Honda driving recklessly. The vehicle turned onto Sycamore Valley Road, where it hopped a curb in order to get onto southbound I-680. Officers Neabeack and Murillo attempted to initiate a traffic stop. The driver, identified as Hannah Meecham, 19, Livermore, fled from the officers and a pursuit began.

Over the course of the three minute pursuit, Meecham exited the freeway onto eastbound Crow Canyon Road in San Ramon, made a u-turn at the Iron Horse Trail crossing and turned south onto Camino Ramon. The vehicle left the roadway at a high rate of speed and struck a tree south of the intersection with Bollinger Canyon Road. 

 San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District was dispatched to the scene of the accident. Meecham was pronounced dead at the scene and two passengers, a 19 year old female and a 37 year old male, both of Livermore, were transported to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek with serious injuries. 

Investigation has determined the vehicle Meecham was driving when she fled police was recently stolen in Dublin.

It was originally believed that the driver had fled the scene, but a search of the area revealed the driver was actually ejected from the vehicle. Officers began rescue breathing on the driver in an attempt to save her life.

San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District was dispatched to the scene of the accident. The driver of the vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene and two passengers were transported to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek with serious injuries.