O.C. Taxi Driver Leads Police in High-Speed Chase
A taxi driver was arrested after a half-hour, high-speed chase across Orange County on Saturday--in which he also drove the wrong way on the Santa Ana Freeway after Anaheim police spotted him picking up fares without a city permit, police said.
Officers looking for cab drivers illegally picking up fares saw the man drop off a customer at Disneyland and recognized him as a driver who operates without an Anaheim city license, said Sgt. Chuck Craig.
They tried to pull him over about 8 p.m., but he fled, heading north on the Santa Ana Freeway at Magnolia Avenue against the southbound traffic, police said.
He then headed south on the freeway, and Anaheim police chased the taxi driver to south Orange County, police said.
He reached speeds in excess of 90 mph in some stretches before he turned around and then headed north on the Costa Mesa Freeway before returning to the Santa Ana Freeway, police said.
He finally stopped on the Riverside Freeway at Gypsum Canyon Road and surrendered without a fight, police said.
He caused at least two crashes, police said, including one at Magnolia Avenue, where he used his car to push another car out of his way to reach the freeway.
The driver’s name was unavailable late Saturday, but he was arrested on numerous charges, including evading police and violating Anaheim’s municipal code, Craig said.
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