Innocent Southern California boy, 15, paralyzed in violent police pursuit crash

A 15-year-old boy out for a bite to eat with friends in a ride-share was left paralyzed from the chest down after a violent crash involving a police pursuit suspect who may have been under the influence in Rancho Cucamonga earlier this month.

The tragic incident occurred on Oct. 5 as Aadan Portillo and his friends were in an Uber on their way to grab some food at In-N-Out Burger near the intersection of Foothill Boulevard and Etiwanda Avenue when the driver of a white Nissan Altima who was fleeing police slammed into the side of the vehicle.

“My son was sitting in the rear passenger side and that’s where the impact occurred,” Benjamin Portillo, the teen’s father, said. “The car that was being chased by police hit the passenger rear side of the Uber.”

Footage of the crash obtained by KTLA shows heavy damage to both vehicles as first responders worked to treat Aadan and rush him to the hospital.

Aadan’s friends, none of whom were seriously injured during the crash, have been visiting him in the hospital, where his family says the teen, who loved to play basketball and play music, has been showing incredible strength despite his now very serious medical challenges.

Benjamin told KTLA that his son endured an eight-hour surgery where doctors removed the fifth cervical vertebra in his neck and replaced it with a spacer to stabilize his neck.

“He’s just strong and he’s positive and he hasn’t gotten angry or asked why,” Veronica Portillo explained. “He hasn’t cried or anything. He’s just like, ‘Okay, this is what it is and let’s keep going. This is not going to stop me.'”

The pursuit suspect, who was wanted for possible DUI and fleeing police at a high rate of speed when he ran the red light and caused the crash that paralyzed the teen, was also injured, though how badly is unclear. He was arrested at the scene.

As for the Portillo family, they said right now their only focus is on Aadan, who has been released from the hospital and moved to a specialized care facility.

“I want my son back to who he was,” Veronica told KTLA. “I believe he will be himself again. I have a lot of faith and we’re going to go on this journey with him.”

A GoFundMe has been organized for the family to help with the 15-year-old’s ongoing medical expenses and specialized care.

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