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A dramatic Los Angeles County police chase has made headlines after it turned into an multi-part saga this past Fourth of July.
Stolen Red Prius Chase: what happened?
After successfully evading the police earlier in the day, a second pursuit began involving multiple patrol cars and surveillance helicopters through the San Fernando Valley.
The driver became increasingly more erratic as the chase ensued. What started as a relatively low-speed chase quickly became a high-speed pursuit as the suspect drove wildly through surface streets before entering the freeway.
Surveillance footage shows the driver dangerously weaving around cars, driving on the wrong side of the road, and sailing through intersections as well as parking lot cut-throughs.
At one point, the driver even crashed through a gate situated at the end of a road, which did little to derail his getaway besides damage his windshield.
The chase came to a culmination when the suspect again crashed the stolen Prius into a gate, this time at an entrance to a residential apartment complex. Unable to ram through this gate, the man hopped out as officers began to pursue him on foot.
After spotting a cracked garage, he slipped into the residence and was momentarily lost by police. With help from a police K-9, the suspect was eventually caught and arrested for reckless driving, police evasion, and an unnamed outstanding felony.
Beyond being thrilling, the chase was made particularly viral by the driver’s random displays of good driving habits. He sporadically stopped at red lights, used his blinker to indicate lane changes, and even occasionally complied with speed limits.
WHAT DO I DO IF I’M CAUGHT IN A CAR CHASE?
If you find yourself in the vicinity of a police chase, it is important to take measures to keep yourself safe on the road, such as:
- Don’t let the chaos distract you from your driving.
- Only come to a stop if you are able to pull off to the side.
- If unable to pull over, maintain your speed and lane so police can safely avoid your vehicle.
- Don’t try to be a hero– the police can handle the situation best without outside intervention.
While Jones & Swanson does not condone theft of cars or fleeing from the police, we can’t help but appreciate random moments of safe driving practices coming from the most unexpected sources!
