A stolen vehicle crash in California has cut short the life of a young Tongan woman just months before her wedding, while leaving her fiancé—a former University of California football player—in critical condition.
Vilamalia Polina Tuipulotu, 22, and her fiancé Beaux Tagaloa, 23, were on their way home from a party Sunday night when their SUV was struck by an armed suspect attempting to evade California Highway Patrol officers in a high-speed police chase.
Her heartbroken family confirmed she was preparing for a summer marriage to Beaux Tagaloa, the injured ex-Cal athlete now fighting for survival in hospital.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through both Tongan and Bay Area communities, raising questions about police pursuit policies as investigators piece together the fatal collision.
Tagaloa is hospitalized in critical condition after the pair were struck at 12.41am on Sunday.
Tu’ipulotu passed away at the scene.
Her fiancé, former Cal football player, Beaux Tagaloa is in critical condition.
The accident started with a high speed pursuit on Highway 4 with California Highway Patrol chasing a stolen car.
“A suspect armed with a stolen handgun operating a stolen gray Infiniti sedan was observed to be traveling at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour,” CHP said in a statement.
Officers caught up with suspect’s car as it exited the freeway.
They tried to make a traffic stop, but the vehicle fled on city streets ending with the crash.
The suspect survived and is also hospitalized.
A GoFundMe has raised over $38,000 so far to go toward funeral costs for Tu’ipulotu. Her family describes her as a beautiful person inside and out, and they say she was set to get married this summer.
Cal Athletics released a statement saying: “Our thoughts are with Beau and his loved ones during this difficult time.”
The Contra Costa County DA’s office is heading up the investigation into the accident with assistance from CHP and Pittsburg Police Department.
