Driver, 65, Her Mother, 84, Lead Chase to O.C.

A 65-year-old woman and her 84-year-old mother led police cars and helicopters on a chase on New Year’s Eve from downtown Los Angeles to the gates of Leisure World, where officers had to smash open their car window before the women would surrender.

The 45-mile chase began an hour before revelers ushered in 1994 and reached speeds of 75 m.p.h. as the women were pursued by the Los Angeles Police Department, at least four California Highway Patrol cars, three helicopters from the Anaheim Police Department, and the sheriff’s departments of Orange and Los Angeles counties.

“It wasn’t exactly like Smokey and the Bandit, but it was unusual,” Sgt. Chris Jenkins of the CHP in San Juan Capistrano said Sunday.

Authorities said Maria Zoha and her mother, Antoinette Cacciato, both of Los Angeles, were on their way to visit relatives in Leisure World when they hit another car about 11 p.m. on Broadway in downtown Los Angeles, but did not stop.

A Los Angeles County police officer, tipped by a witness to the accident, chased the 1971 Chevrolet Impala the women occupied, and Los Angeles police joined the pursuit. They followed the women onto the Hollywood Freeway and then southward on Interstate 5, where the driver, Zoha, turned her headlights off, authorities said.

Once the car entered Orange County, the CHP took over, authorities said, tailing the women all the way to El Toro Road, where their car exited about 50 minutes after the chase began.

Instead of making a right-hand turn on Avenida de la Carlota, the main street in front of Leisure World, Zoha made a left and then a U-turn to double-back to the retirement village, Jenkins said.

At a locked entrance to Leisure World on Via Puerta, the car stopped momentarily before backing up, but Zoha and Cacciato were blocked from leaving. Zoha, authorities said, refused to unlock her doors, get out of the car or turn off the engine.

A homemade videotape of the encounter shows a CHP officer repeatedly ordering Zoha to “turn the car off” before a trooper finally smashed the driver’s side window with his baton and pulled Zoha from the car.

Zoha was taken to Orange County Jail on suspicion of driving without a license and evading arrest but was released on New Year’s Day. She faces a court hearing later this month. Jenkins said Zoha was taken to Western Medical Center-Anaheim for psychiatric evaluation.

Cacciato was released to relatives who live in Leisure World, Jenkins said.

CHP officer Bruce Ferrier said that he did not know how many patrol cars pursued the two women, but that teams of three cars could have been involved in the chase from each of the four CHP offices that participated, including the patrol divisions of Santa Fe Springs, Westminster, Santa Ana and San Juan Capistrano.

Ferrier said the chase wasn’t nearly as dangerous as others the CHP has participated in.

“Compared to some of the others we’ve been involved in, this wasn’t much,” he said. “These were two elderly ladies. They are not criminals. They just wanted to get to Leisure World.”

Capt. Harry Langefeld of Leisure World security said the entrance where the women stopped--one of 14 at the retirement village--had been locked for the night at 11 p.m. Those entering Leisure World must have an identification card, clearance from a resident, a decal or a pass to gain entrance, he said.

At the time of the arrest, about midnight, several hundred people were jammed into Leisure World’s six clubhouses for New Year’s celebrations, Langefeld said.

“Normally it’s pretty quiet around here,” he said. “But New Year’s Eve is a big deal with lots of parties going.”

Langefeld said he did not know whether the women were related to anyone inside Leisure World.

45-Mile Chase

Two women led police cars and helicopters on a chase from Los Angeles to Laguna Hills.

1. Chase begins when authorities are notified of hit-and-run.

2. Suspects’ vehicle exits freeway at El Toro Road and travels south on Avenida de la Carlota.

3. Vehicle makes U-turn and travels north on Avenida de la Carlota.

4. Vehicle stops at locked gate at Leisure World. Driver is taken into custody.