High Speed Chase Ends In Hollywood Crash

HOLLYWOOD, CA — A suspected car thief led police on a high-speed chase that ended when the driver plowed into parked cars in Hollywood.

The chase started in Van Nuys in the area of Kester Avenue and Sherman Way around 11 p.m. when police suspected the man of stealing a work van. Officers noticed the suspicious vehicle and ran the plates to discover it was stolen, said Officer N. Osling of the Los Angeles Police Department.

The suspected allegedly tried to flee police, driving at high speeds south on the San Diego (405) Freeway and transitioning to the southbound Hollywood (101) Freeway. The chase reached speeds of 100 mph before the driver exited at Hollywood Boulevard. He headed east on Hollywood Boulevard driving at speeds of up to 70 mph on surface streets in Hollywood before crashing into a pair of parked cars near Highland and DeLongpre avenues, police said. Then exited the passenger side of the van and was quickly taken into custody by police. No one else was in the van.

The van had sustained earlier damage to the driver side when it hopped a curb near Van Nuys Boulevard and Sherman Way, then backed over a traffic light before leading police on the high-speed pursuit, ABC7 reported.

City News Service contributed to this report. Photo: Shutterstock