High Speed Chase Ends in Dramatic Wrong Way Crash in Cajon Pass

A wild police pursuit that started in Ventura County came to a smashing end in the Cajon Pass on Wednesday morning. The chase covered several counties and lasted for hours before the suspect decided to drive the wrong way on the freeway. This led to a head on collision with a police car and sent an officer to the hospital.

🔦 Starting with a Blackout

The whole mess kicked off late Tuesday night around 10 p.m. in Ventura County. Officers with the California Highway Patrol tried to pull over a blue SUV because it did not have any license plates. To make things even more dangerous the driver was flying down the road with no headlights on at all. Instead of stopping for the cops the driver hit the gas and fled southbound on the 101 Freeway.

Once a police helicopter got overhead the driver finally turned on the headlights and hazard lights but they still refused to pull over. The chase continued at high speeds through the San Fernando Valley. Officers tried to use spike strips to stop the car multiple times. One early attempt did not work but a later one was successful. Even though the tires were damaged and falling apart the driver kept on going and led the police into the heart of Los Angeles.

🏎️ Racing Through Hollywood and Downtown

The suspect showed no signs of stopping as they sped through Hollywood and Echo Park and eventually right through downtown L.A. The chase was a massive operation with multiple units following the SUV as it moved from the 101 to other freeways. The damaged tires were likely throwing sparks and rubber all over the road but the driver was determined to stay on the run.

Eventually the pursuit moved onto the northbound Interstate 15. The suspect drove past the Highway 138 exit in the Cajon Pass which is a steep and dangerous stretch of road. This is where things took a very dark turn. The driver suddenly turned the SUV around and began driving the wrong way into oncoming traffic on the 15 freeway.

🚑 A Violent Collision and Arrest

The wrong way driving quickly led to a disaster. The suspect vehicle slammed right into a California Highway Patrol patrol car. The impact was so strong that the SUV became totally disabled and the police vehicle was sent down an embankment on the side of the road.

Officers swarmed the scene and finally took the suspect into custody around midnight. One of the highway patrol officers had to be transported to a local hospital as a precaution but luckily no other injuries were reported from the crash. The suspect is now facing a long list of charges for the chase and the violent ending. This dramatic event brought the 15 freeway to a standstill and showed just how dangerous these high speed pursuits can become.