Police chase erratic driver in suspected stolen vehicle through San Fernando Valley
A driver in a suspected stolen vehicle led officers on a high-speed chase through the San Fernando Valley area Thursday night.
The male driver, in a red Toyota Prius, is believed to be driving a stolen vehicle.
The suspect reached speeds of 60-70 miles per hour on surface streets while running red lights and driving on the wrong side of the road.
At one point, he turned onto a side street with a dead end. With nowhere to go, he smashed into a metal gate, shattering his front windshield and leaving the car with major front-end and driver-side damage.
The suspect then headed onto the freeway and narrowly missed several vehicles while weaving through traffic and reaching speeds of over 100 miles per hour.
The pursuit started around 7:45 p.m. while multiple San Fernando police units followed closely behind.
Major windshield and front-end damage is seen after a driver in a suspected stolen vehicle rammed a metal gate during a pursuit in the San Fernando Valley on July 4, 2024. (KTLA) A driver in a suspected stolen vehicle led officers on a high-speed chase through the San Fernando Valley area on July 4, 2024. (KTLA) The suspect turned onto a dead-end street and rammed a metal gate. (KTLA) The suspect turned onto a dead-end street and rammed a metal gate. (KTLA) A driver in a suspected stolen vehicle led officers on a high-speed chase through the San Fernando Valley area on July 4, 2024. (KTLA) Major windshield and front-end damage is seen after a driver in a suspected stolen vehicle rammed a metal gate during a pursuit in the San Fernando Valley on July 4, 2024. (KTLA) The suspect tried ramming the metal gate of a Sunland apartment complex but failed. He jumped out of the car and ran into the complex. (KTLA) Police searched a garage as the man was believed to be hiding inside a residence at the apartment complex in Sunland. (KTLA) The suspect tried ramming the metal gate of an apartment complex but failed. He jumped out of the car and ran into the complex. (KTLA) A driver in a suspected stolen vehicle led officers on a high-speed chase through the San Fernando Valley area on July 4, 2024. (KTLA) A driver in a suspected stolen vehicle led officers on a high-speed chase through the San Fernando Valley area on July 4, 2024. (KTLA)
The suspect eventually turned into the gated entrance of an apartment complex on the 10400 block of Sunland Boulevard in Sunland.
He tried to ram the gate open but was unsuccessful. He immediately jumped out of the car and ran into the apartment complex before hiding inside a residence.
Officers have surrounded the complex and are searching for the man.
The vehicle was reportedly involved in a pursuit earlier on the same day by Burbank police who lost the vehicle.
Footage of the pursuit can be viewed in the video player above.
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