UPDATE: Suspects Killed in Fiery Crash at End of Chase

Update: 9:10 a.m. Wednesday

Authorities today released the names of two women fatally injured when one of them drove a car into a tree while trying to evade pursuing Hemet police.

The pursuit began around 2 a.m. Tuesday in the 100 block of Oakland Avenue when a patrol unit spotted a vehicle that matched descriptions given by witnesses to four separate shootings at homes in Hemet and San Jacinto on Sunday, according to according to Hemet police Lt. Eric Dickson.

An officer stopped 33-year-old Crystal Gray of Hemet and her two passengers. As he spoke with Gray, she unexpectedly threw her car into gear and sped away, nearly striking the officer, Dickson said.

Officers gave chase, tailing the trio as Gray headed through southeast Hemet at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour, he said.

"The police units were unable to safely match the suspect's speed and dropped back," the lieutenant said. "The suspect lost control of the vehicle in the 400 block of East Whittier Avenue, nearly struck two bystanders, drove up the south curb of Whittier and struck a tree."

Dickson said officers arrived to find the vehicle in flames. They performed CPR on Gray and one of her two passengers, 21-year-old Shelby Kraft, also of Hemet, and used fire extinguishers to contain the car fire, he said.

Gray was pronounced dead at the scene, and Kraft was transported to Hemet Valley Medical Center, where she died a little more than an hour after the crash. The surviving female occupant of the car was hospitalized in critical condition.

Investigations were under way into the pursuit and weekend shootings.

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Original Article from Tuesday

A suspect was attempting to flee from Hemet police today when he lost control of his vehicle, which slammed into a tree, killing him and one of his two passengers, authorities said.

The pursuit began around 2 a.m. on Oakland Avenue near State Street, according to Hemet police Lt. Eric Dickson. He said a patrol unit spotted a vehicle that matched descriptions given by witnesses to several shootings in the area on Sunday.

An officer stopped the motorist and made contact with him and his two passengers. As the lawman spoke with the driver, the man unexpectedly threw his car into gear -- nearly striking the officer -- and sped away, according to Dickson.

Officers gave chase, tailing the suspect as he headed through southeast Hemet at speeds in excess of 100 mph, Dickson said.

"The police units were unable to safely match the suspect's speed and dropped back," the lieutenant said. "The suspect lost control of the vehicle in the 400 block of East Whittier Avenue, nearly struck two bystanders, drove up the south curb of Whittier and struck a tree."

Dickson said officers arrived to find the vehicle in flames. They initiated CPR on the driver and a female passenger and used fire extinguishers to contain the car fire until first-responders arrived, according to the lieutenant.

He said the driver was pronounced dead at the scene, and the woman died at the hospital a short time later. The surviving occupant of the car was hospitalized in critical condition.

None of the parties were immediately identified.

An investigation into the pursuit and weekend shootings was under way.