Carjacker Killed After Long Chase

A carjacker took three people hostage, exchanged gunfire with police and led authorities on a 100-mile freeway chase across two coastal counties Friday before he was stopped and shot dead near El Capitan State Beach, north of Santa Barbara.

Investigators were trying to determine if the man, who had not been identified late Friday afternoon, killed himself after a shootout with officers.

California Highway Patrol spokesman Joe Vega said no one else was hurt in the incident, which began shortly after noon near Paso Robles when the man and a male passenger failed to yield for a traffic stop on U.S. 101 and the driver fired at pursuing CHP officers.

The man drove south on U.S. 101 at speeds of more than 100 mph and exited the freeway in Pismo Beach after his vehicle’s tires were flattened with a spike strip, Vega said.

The driver then traded gunfire with Pismo Beach police before carjacking a vehicle and taking three hostages, authorities said. The hostages were released when the vehicle ran out of gas on the freeway near Buellton, Vega said.

The suspect then hijacked a moving van, which officers forced to a stop about 20 miles north of Santa Barbara.