SAN FRANCISCO » Three people died in a fiery crash after a car fleeing authorities crashed into a taxi in San Francisco streets, officials said today.

California Highway Patrol spokesman Officer Vu Williams said the brief chase Saturday night began after an officer tried to pull over the driver of a white Chevrolet sedan seen rotating in circles in the middle of a neighborhood street.

The car drove away and the officer gave chase but stopped the pursuit after the car began racing through red lights. Moments later the car crashed into a taxi and burst into flames, killing all three passengers, Williams said.

Williams said the officer made a judgment call to end the pursuit because of the people out on the streets due to Super Bowl activities. About 2 miles from where the chase began, thousands were in Super Bowl City waiting to see Alicia Keys perform and Metallica was playing at AT&T Park, six blocks from where the white sedan was first spotted.

“The risks to continue chasing outweighed stopping the car,” Williams said.

He said the taxi driver had minor injuries.

The three people killed were not identified.