Rush-hour drivers in Hallandale Beach, Hollywood and Fort Lauderdale found themselves in the middle of a dangerous spectacle Thursday afternoon when a suspected stolen car tore through three cities with police in pursuit, according to investigators. The multi-agency chase began around 4:45 p.m. in Hallandale Beach’s Golden Isles Safe Neighborhood District and, after a crash involving police cruisers in Hollywood, continued north on I-95 toward Fort Lauderdale.
What police say
According to CBS Miami, officers said the pursuit started when they responded to a reported stolen vehicle in the Golden Isles area at about 4:45 p.m. The driver took off, leading police into Hollywood, where cruisers were involved in a collision near Van Buren Street and Federal Highway. Despite the crash, the suspect kept heading north on I-95 toward Fort Lauderdale. Hallandale Beach police told the station they were coordinating with Hollywood and Fort Lauderdale police on the ongoing investigation.
Chopper 4 footage shows tense Fort Lauderdale scene
CBS Miami's Chopper 4 later flew over a Fort Lauderdale neighborhood where the station reported that a family was seen walking out of a home with their hands up while officers detained some residents near Northwest 15th Way and 7th Street. From the video, it was not clear whether those individuals were actually suspects in the stolen-vehicle case. Police told the station that as of that report, the suspected driver had not been taken into custody.
Safety and the law
As the chase unfolded, officers urged drivers to stay alert, yield to approaching emergency vehicles and steer clear of areas where police activity was underway. Florida law requires motorists to yield the right-of-way and pull to the closest edge of the curb for approaching emergency vehicles, a rule laid out in the Florida Statutes.
As of the station’s report, police had not released any additional details or announced any arrests. Investigators asked anyone with information to contact the Hallandale Beach Police Department and urged residents in the affected neighborhoods to avoid the area while detectives continue their work.
