3 Critical After Wrong-Way Freeway Crash

A wrong-way chase involving a stolen car speeding east in the westbound carpool lane of the Century Freeway ended horrifically Wednesday night with a head-on crash into another car that critically injured three people, authorities said.

Los Angeles police were pursuing the stolen Honda from the westbound side of the freeway, and were just about to relinquish jurisdiction to the California Highway Patrol when the Honda smashed into an oncoming car, demolishing both cars and sending glass and metal flying.

Miraculously, two people stepped out of the victims’ car. But a spokesman for the county Fire Department said of the four people in that car, one was critically injured, two were later in guarded but stable condition and the fourth suffered minor injuries.

The suspects’ car contained three people. Two were critically hurt and one suffered minor injuries, authorities said.

A Los Angeles County Fire Department spokesman said both cars were equipped with air bags, “and that probably saved lives.”

No other cars were involved in the crash, he said, adding: “It is very fortunate that nobody was killed.”

The chase began about 9 p.m. when police received a report of a gang-related drive-by shooting at 23rd and Wall streets, said Los Angeles police spokesman Sgt. John Pasquariello. Officers saw a car matching the description of one wanted in the shooting and began chasing it, he said.

About 15 minutes into the chase on surface streets, the suspects entered the 105 Freeway at Central Avenue, traveling east in the westbound lanes.

Police said the suspects tossed a weapon from the car during the chase and narrowly dodged a bus. After the crash, police officers surrounded the stolen car with guns drawn. The occupants were believed to be still armed.

Jose Estrada and his brother Julian were working on the freeway under contract to Caltrans.

“We saw lights coming this way,” said Jose Estrada. “It was a car and about 20 cops coming this way too. We thought we’d better get out of the way. We knew there was going to be an accident as soon as I saw a car going the wrong way being chased by police.”

As he watched the high-speed chase, Julian Estrada said he realized that “the people coming the other way didn’t have a clue.”

The crash choked traffic for miles. Southbound traffic on the San Diego Freeway was backed up to the Santa Monica Freeway.