Several Injured In 100 MPH, Wrong-Way Truck Chase Rampage

LOS ANGELES, CA — The driver of a flatbed truck reported stolen went on a destructive rampage, driving the wrong-way, topping 100 mph and ramming vehicles from Downtown Los Angeles to Long Beach Friday, before attempting to casually walk away from the chaos he created. Police from multiple departments swarmed him. At least one officer was injured in the tackle.

The chase was one of the more harrowing and memorable in recent history. At one point, the driver hopped a curb in Pico Rivera and drove on the sidewalk to avoid traffic. He nearly hit a bus and drove into oncoming traffic, striking multiple vehicles. When he fled on foot, he appeared to walk casually for about a block while helicopter broadcast crews tracked him.

In the end, the driver of at least one other vehicle was hospitalized in unknown condition, and the suspect and an officer were also treated for injuries.

The chase began around 2:45 p.m. near the Harbor (110) Freeway and Adams Street, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

The driver weaved his way on surface streets and eventually onto the southbound San Gabriel River (605) Freeway, clipping several vehicles as he occasionally topped 100 mph. The suspect later wound his way through streets of Whittier, driving onto center medians and sideswiping several more vehicles as he wove wildly through traffic. He occasionally drove on the shoulder of crowded roadway, striking uncounted additional vehicles.

As he made his way into Long Beach, the driver became even more erratic, speeding wildly on a crowded thoroughfare, leaving multiple vehicles with minor damage. But with traffic stopped at one intersection, the suspect plowed the work truck into the rear of at least three vehicles, pushing his way through the wreckage.

Despite a flat front tire, the suspect continued speeding, struggling to maintain control and striking more vehicles before ultimately smashing into an SUV and a van as he ran a red light. The force of the collision sent the work truck careening into a Sherwin Williams paint store parking lot, where the vehicle came to a stop against a concrete barrier near the front door.

The suspect then got out of the truck and began to casually walk away from the scene. He appeared to walk several blocks before Los Angeles police officers caught up with him and slammed him to the ground. Nearly a dozen officers converged on the scene and struggled to take the man into custody. At least one of the officers was injured during the struggle and was later taken from the scene in an ambulance.

The driver of the SUV that was violently struck by the suspect at the end of the pursuit was also treated by Long Beach paramedics and taken to a hospital in unknown condition.

Paramedics were also seen treating the suspect at the scene for unknown injuries.

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City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.