Reckless Driving Suspect Leads Police On Dangerous Pursuit Through SoCal
PASADENA (CBSLA) – A suspect in a stolen work truck led police on a high-speed pursuit through Los Angeles County Thursday afternoon, driving erratically before broadsiding an SUV and seriously injuring its driver.
The chase began around 4:35 p.m. in the Bell Gardens area, according to police.
The suspect weaved through rush-hour traffic, narrowly hitting several vehicles while making sharp turns and squeezing between cars. The chase winded through Commerce, Alhambra and into South Pasadena as the suspect drove on the wrong side of the road and ran through red lights and stop signs.
SKY9's Stu Mundel was over the chase as the driver sped along residential streets in South Pasadena, where the suspect smashed through railroad crossing gates and just missed a Metro Light Rail train.
The driver slammed into an SUV at the intersection of Orange Grove Boulevard and Holly Street in Pasadena around 5:20 p.m., damaging the front end of the stolen vehicle and destroying the driver's side of the SUV.
Pasadena Fire Department firefighters used the Jaws of Life to pry open the driver's door to free the SUV driver. The driver, an unidentified woman, was in serious but stable condition and rushed to Huntington Memorial Hospital, officials said.
First responders said it took 14 minutes to extract the woman, who was talking to rescuers.
"Our firefighters actually were watching this chase on television at the fire station, which is about a half mile down the road, and they realized the traffic collision at Holly and Orange Grove, so before they were even dispatched to this call, they were already in the apparatus on their way responding," said Pasadena Fire Deputy Chief Bryan Frieders.
Crews found two unoccupied child seats in the rear of SUV, according to a Pasadena Fire assistant chief.
The suspect was taken into custody without incident.