2-Hour Chase on 10 Freeways Ends as Man Drives Off Pier

A Huntington Beach man led authorities on a two-hour chase over 10 freeways in Los Angeles and Orange counties early Monday before driving his red Camaro off Huntington Beach Pier into the ocean, authorities said.

James Hamilton, 23, survived the 24-foot plunge and was plucked from the water by an Orange County Harbor Patrol boat about 5:20 a.m., after being in the water for about 30 minutes, California Highway Patrol Lt. Jerry Jewett said.

A lifeguard who witnessed the rescue said Hamilton appeared to be in the water with his dog and that the two were pulled out together. Hamilton was taken to Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach, where he was treated for cuts and scrapes and then released, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Hamilton was arrested on suspicion of evading police and reckless driving, according to a CHP spokeswoman. The Huntington Beach Police Department is expected to seek additional charges against Hamilton involving damage to city property, the spokeswoman said.

Police on Monday decided to leave Hamilton’s car in the ocean because of concern that the pier, which was closed last year after being damaged by a storm, would be unable to support the heavy equipment needed to retrieve it.

The chase began about 2:40 a.m. Monday when Brea police officers attempted to pull Hamilton over on suspicion of speeding on the southbound Orange Freeway. Police originally thought the car Hamilton was driving might have been involved in a murder investigation, Jewett said. That proved to be incorrect, but police were unsure why Hamilton continued to flee.

Brea police soon lost sight of Hamilton and CHP officers continued the pursuit on the Garden Grove Freeway at speeds of 80 to 105 m.p.h., according to Jewett, who was involved in the chase for about 100 miles.

Hamilton crisscrossed the two counties for about 150 miles, going as far north as the San Bernardino Freeway in Los Angeles and as far south as the Costa Mesa Freeway in Costa Mesa. Brea police, several units of CHP officers, Huntington Beach police and a Los Angeles Police Department helicopter were involved in the chase at various times.

About 4:45 a.m., Hamilton left the San Diego Freeway at the Beach Boulevard exit, drove south to Pacific Coast Highway, turned left onto the closed off pier area at the end of Main Street, crashed through a chain-link fence and drove off the end, Jewett said.

Brian Graham, who lives on Pacific Coast Highway near the pier, said he was awakened by the sounds of sirens and saw the end of the chase.

“I looked out my window and the Camaro was just hauling” north on the Pacific Coast Highway, Graham said.

“All of a sudden it just burst through the gate,” Graham said.

There were no injuries or accidents during the chase.

“I was pretty much amazed that he didn’t have an accident considering the distance he covered and the speed he was traveling,” Jewett said. “The way it ended was the most outrageous I’ve seen. It’s almost humorous.

“It reminded me of something I’ve seen on TV once or twice,” he said.