1 Man Killed, 1 Injured in High-Speed Police Chase
One man was killed and another seriously injured when a pickup truck they allegedly stole crashed as they fled from police at 90 mph, authorities said.
Glendale police spotted the men, whose names were not immediately released, near San Fernando Road and Western Avenue at 12:31 a.m.--a minute after the blue and gray Chevy was reported stolen. A police unit followed the truck as it drove down the southbound onramp to the Golden State Freeway and called for backup, according to Chahe Keuroghelian, Glendale police spokesman.
When two additional police cars arrived five minutes later they tried to pull the truck over.
“The truck then exits the [Golden State Freeway] at Los Feliz westbound and picks up speed going down to Western Avenue,” Keuroghelian said. “Figure in your mind that sharp turn on Los Feliz near Griffith Park--they are going 90 mph in a 25 mph zone.”
The police cars slowed down, Keuroghelian said, even as the suspects increased their speed around the curve and slid into the cement center lane divider, then flipped over and sheared off a light pole on the eastbound shoulder. Both occupants were thrown from the truck, which landed upside-down.
The passenger was killed in the accident. The driver was taken by ambulance to Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, where he was listed in serious condition.
Police said they will arrest the driver when his condition improves.
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