Wrong Way Driver Leads Police on Wild Chase through Laguna Beach

A driver who led police on a wrong way pursuit through several Orange County cities is now in custody.

The chase began shortly after 3 p.m. in Lake Forest when and Orange County Sheriff’s deputy attempted to stop the driver of a gray pickup near Bake Parkway for a traffic violation, said Orange County Sheriff’s Department Mark Stichter.

Instead of stopping, the driver took deputies on a wild chase.

“He was driving erratically on the wrong side of the road,” added Stichter. “Laguna Beach police attempted to utilize a spike strip, but it didn’t work.”

The pursuit, which frequently crossed over into oncoming traffic, lasted through Lake Forest, Irvine, Laguna Beach, Corona del Mar, Newport Beach and eventually to Huntington Beach where deputies used a PIT maneuver to stop him, said Stichter.