A high-speed pursuit through the San Gabriel Valley came to a grinding halt Monday morning when a vehicle driven by a suspected impaired driver slammed into the side of a commercial big rig in La Puente. Aerial footage showed the smaller car wedged partly under the truck’s trailer as deputies rushed in, surrounded the wreck, and locked down the scene. Three people were detained, according to authorities, though officials did not immediately release their identities.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department confirmed the detentions, according to KTLA. KTLA reported that Sky5 was over the scene at about 10:30 a.m., capturing live shots of the suspect vehicle wedged beneath the big rig’s trailer. The station noted that investigators were still trying to determine where the chase began as deputies continued their work on the ground.
Aerial Footage and Context
Chopper video showed deputies converging on the disabled vehicle while tow crews and emergency responders moved in to clear debris and sort out the mess for frustrated drivers stuck nearby. The scene had all the familiar elements of a Southern California pursuit ending badly, right down to the traffic backup.
Similar pursuits in the region have also ended with suspect vehicles smashing into commercial trucks, highlighting the danger of high-speed chases on already busy roads, as ABC7 documented in an earlier case. In incidents like this one, investigators typically review aerial, dash, and body-camera footage to reconstruct the final minutes of the pursuit and figure out exactly how it all went sideways.
Investigators’ Next Steps
Deputies did not immediately say whether DUI charges would follow or whether anyone suffered serious injuries, the sheriff’s department told KTLA. Crews stayed on scene as detectives documented evidence, and tow trucks worked to remove the wrecked vehicles from the roadway.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said the investigation remains active and that more information will be released when it becomes available. In the meantime, the crash briefly tangled traffic in the area while emergency crews cleared the scene. Investigators are still piecing together what triggered the chase, and the department has not provided any additional details.
