On Monday morning, December 9th, a California man lost his life while trying to prevent his truck from being stolen.
In Butte County, California, the number of auto theft cases increased by 30.7% in 2023 compared to the previous year. Recently, a new car theft case in the county sparked a fire and resulted in the death of the victim. The incident took place in the town of Magalia, located 90 miles north of Sacramento. Officials stated that the suspect is a minor who has been sent to juvenile detention for involuntary manslaughter.
Sheriff of Butte County mentioned that around 2 am, 50-year-old Robert Etta discovered a thief attempting to steal his truck and jumped into the back of the truck. Etta immediately called the police when the thief drove away and stayed on the line with the dispatcher. During the call, the dispatcher heard a collision.
When law enforcement arrived at the scene, they found the truck engulfed in flames, with the fire spreading to nearby vegetation. Firefighters from the California Fire Department subsequently extinguished the fire.
Etta was pronounced dead at the scene. The underage suspect was injured in the accident, taken to the hospital for treatment, and later sent to juvenile detention in Butte County for involuntary manslaughter.
The car accident and fire caused nearby power lines to fall, resulting in hundreds of households in Butte County losing electricity. The Sheriff’s Office has requested individuals with information to call (530) 538-7671 to report any details.