ANAHEIM : Suspect in Hit-Run Caught by Motorist

A Stanton motorist suspected in a hit-and-run accident that left a Huntington Beach man seriously injured was chased down by another motorist and held until police arrived, authorities said Friday.

Jose Escareno Alonso, 22, was being held at the Anaheim City Jail in lieu of $10,000 bail.

The victim, Michael A. Roth, 41, was listed in stable condition at UCI Medical Center in Orange.

Anaheim Sgt. Richard Zschoche said the incident occurred around 9:10 p.m. Thursday when Alonso ran a red light at the intersection of Katella Avenue and Walnut Street, colliding with another vehicle driven by Chau Hong Nguyen, 40, of Garden Grove.

Nguyen’s car crashed into a bus bench, crushing Roth’s legs, the sergeant said.

Zschoche said another motorist, Steve Swan of Anaheim, pursued Alonso as he fled the scene.

Alonso and the five passengers in his 1974 Chevy Monte Carlo ran away when the vehicle broke down about a block away, Zschoche said.

Swan jumped out of his rented truck and chased after the men. He tackled Alonso and held him until Anaheim patrol officers arrived on the scene a few minutes later, Zschoche said.

“I think it is commendable what Swan did,” Zschoche said. “The suspect would surely have disappeared. We don’t find many people who go out of their way to get involved.”