Stolen car slams into parked vehicles in Santa Rosa, causes fire

A man suspected of stealing a car slammed into seven parked vehicles - causing several to become engulfed in flames - just after midnight Friday in Santa Rosa.

When police officers and firefighters arrived about 12:33 a.m. on West Steele Lane west of the train tracks they found an unconscious man lying in the street and several vehicles on fire, police said in a statement. The injured man, who was not identified, was apparently thrown from the car during the crash.

Two residents of the Rhianna Street home where the white 2011 Dodge Charger was reported stolen followed the suspect in another vehicle but lost sight of him after he hit speeds of 100 mph on city streets, police said. They then heard the sound of a crash by the train tracks.

None of the vehicles parked on the north side of West Steele Lane were occupied at the time of the crash, police said. The suspected car thief was taken to the hospital in serious condition but was expected to survive, police said.

You can reach Staff Writer Nick Rahaim at 707-521-5203 or nick.rahaim@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @nrahaim.