The Dec. 23 chase began at 4:30 p.m. at Meridian Avenue and Curci Drive after San Jose police Officer Ron Tabron scanned the license plate number of a silver 2002 Toyota RAV4—which matched the description of a stolen vehicle—and learned it had been stolen, said San Jose police press information Officer Gina Tepoorten.

A chase ensued as the Toyota sped up after Tabron turned on the lights and siren on his police car.

Near Meridian Avenue and Willow Street, the suspects' vehicle backed into and rammed the bumper of the police car and drove off into the neighborhood near Willow Street Bramhall Park.

The officer decided to stop the pursuit after the Toyota drove onto the sidewalk and in the bike lane and ran a stop sign at Camino Ramon, Tepoorten said.

"We don't pursue for property crimes if there's danger to the public," she said.

The vehicle then appeared in an alerted plainclothes officer's path on Minnesota Avenue going westbound, Tepoorten said. It rear-ended a Honda, inflicting a slight neck injury to the motorist and sending the suspects' vehicle into the preschool yard and driveway.

"They went through the cyclone [fence] and hit the posts with cement—that's what stopped them," said Jane Bouthellier, wife of preschool director Randy Bouthellier.

She said the two women were trapped between the two fences, and one was telling the other to jump the fence.

Bouthellier said her husband grabbed the women before the plainclothes officers arrived, which was within 30 seconds. One officer suffered a knee injury when restraining the woman who had driven the stolen vehicle.

"It was well taken care of by the officers," Bouthellier said.

Police officers led away the two suspects, who are both San Jose residents. The driver, Evette Loyola, 26, has been booked on charges of possessing stolen property, evading an officer, battery of an officer and felony hit and run. The passenger, Jennifer Ross, 27, was booked on charges of possessing stolen property, Tepoorten said.

The high-speed drama "didn't phase the kids," who were preparing for an evening of Christmas carols and opening presents with their parents, Bouthellier said.

"The kids thought it was hilarious," she said about the car that drove through the fence.

She added that parents were amazed and were guided into the school by police officers.

"It did not interrupt or dampen the party at all," Bouthellier said.

Located on the corner of Minnesota and Meridian avenues for 56 years, the preschool site is secured by four sets of fences, and children play in a backyard area.