don't see how the suspect in the police chase can be held responsible for the crash. Seems absurd.
Not at all. It is as the same if two cars crashed avoiding the pursuit and killed 4 people. Fact is that because the driver of the truck chose to run from the police, a felony, and any deaths resulting from his actions he is liable for. Same law applies to people who start forest fires and fire fighters die, or civilians die from the fire.
Sadly all he probably will be charged with is Manslaughter.