Marianne Casey Obituary, Death – On Thursday, police identified the victim of a deadly crash that occurred at the conclusion of a police pursuit involving a theft suspect. The victim, 67-year-old Marianne Casey from La Palma, was killed in the violent collision, which followed a high-speed chase that began in Fullerton.
The incident started just before 12:40 p.m. on Wednesday when a detective witnessed a theft at the intersection of North Gilbert Street and West Malvern Avenue in Fullerton. The officer observed the suspect, who quickly entered a white Nissan Rogue and fled the scene. The police attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver refused to pull over, triggering a pursuit.
During the chase, the suspect’s vehicle was involved in a hit-and-run collision near Brookhurst Road and Orangethorpe Avenue. However, despite the crash, the pursuit continued westward along the Riverside (91) Freeway. At one point, the suspect exited the freeway at Knox Avenue, and Fullerton police temporarily lost sight of the Nissan.
Buena Park police soon joined the chase and managed to track the suspect’s vehicle briefly, but they, too, lost sight of it. The pursuit then entered La Palma, where officers from the La Palma Police Department became involved near La Palma Avenue and Walker Street. Tragically, the chase came to a devastating end at the intersection of La Palma Avenue and Moody Street, where the suspect’s vehicle collided with a BMW driven by Marianne Casey.
Casey, who was behind the wheel of the BMW, was pronounced dead at the scene. In addition to Casey’s tragic death, three other individuals were injured in the crash. Two men and a woman were transported to a nearby hospital, according to Capt. Thanh Nguyen of the Orange County Fire Authority.
The suspect was later identified as 43-year-old Anthony Hanzal from Anaheim. Hanzal, one of the individuals injured in the crash, was taken to the hospital but was arrested and placed in custody. By Thursday, Hanzal was being held at the Orange County Jail.
Hanzal has a history of legal issues in Orange County. In October 2023, he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of possessing drug paraphernalia and petty theft. Additionally, he had previous convictions dating back to January 2019 for charges that included carrying a dirk or dagger, shoplifting, possessing a controlled substance, and possessing a controlled substance without a prescription, according to court records.
The crash and ensuing fatality have raised concerns about the dangers of high-speed police chases, particularly when they involve reckless driving and result in innocent bystanders being harmed. Authorities are continuing to investigate the crash and the circumstances surrounding the pursuit to determine what led to the tragic loss of Marianne Casey’s life. The incident has also brought attention to the risks associated with vehicle pursuits, which can often have unintended and deadly consequences for the public.
As the investigation unfolds, the police are looking into all aspects of the incident, including the suspect’s motives for fleeing, the actions of law enforcement during the pursuit, and whether there were any additional factors that contributed to the fatal crash. In the meantime, the community is mourning the loss of Marianne Casey, whose death has deeply impacted those who knew her.
The case also highlights the broader issue of repeat offenders and the consequences of unresolved criminal behavior. While the full details of Hanzal’s criminal history and its potential role in the events leading up to the crash are still being examined, his past encounters with the law may offer some insight into his actions during the chase.
This tragic incident serves as a painful reminder of the dangers that arise when individuals attempt to evade law enforcement. It underscores the importance of evaluating police pursuit protocols and the potential risks posed to innocent people when suspects choose to flee from authorities. Authorities are working to prevent similar incidents in the future and to ensure that justice is served for the victims, including Marianne Casey, whose life was cut short in a senseless act of violence.