A driver reached speeds of 100 mph while leading California Highway Patrol officers on a chase that tore across multiple Orange County freeways Friday night, after officers tried to pull the car over for reckless driving. The pursuit wound through the 405, the 5, and other stretches of Southern California highway before continuing toward San Juan Capistrano, with a news helicopter following the unfolding scene.
Chase Erupts After Attempted Traffic Stop
CHP officers initially tried to stop the vehicle for reckless driving, according to KTLA, and the pursuit continued onto the freeway system, sometimes reaching speeds of 100 mph. The outlet described the vehicle as a white sedan. Separately, CBS News Los Angeles reported the car as a white BMW pursued by CHP after the pursuit began in south Los Angeles.
The chase's starting point is unclear: KTLA said it began on the southbound 605 Freeway before continuing onto the southbound 405 near Huntington Beach, while CBS News Los Angeles said it began in South Los Angeles. Both accounts have the driver eventually surging south on the 405 as CHP pursued the chase in Orange County.
Pursuit Swings Through Irvine Toward San Juan Capistrano
From there, accounts describe the chase shifting onto the 5 Freeway in Irvine before continuing toward San Juan Capistrano, with the driver also reported traveling southbound on the 5 at points during the pursuit. KTLA's live coverage noted the chase later moved to the northbound side of the 5 Freeway as it stretched on, and the outlet's Sky 5 helicopter was at one point forced to return for fuel while the pursuit was still underway.
High-speed pursuits of this kind are not unusual on Southern California freeways. In a separate incident, a CHP pursuit began in Ventura County after a woman in a gray Toyota Sienna minivan allegedly refused to stop, according to NBC San Diego. That chase reportedly hit 90 mph on State Route 118 before Ventura County deputies handed it off to CHP on the southbound 405, with the pursuit eventually reaching San Juan Capistrano in Orange County.
Other Recent Freeway Chases Ended in Custody
Another pursuit tracked by CBS News Los Angeles saw a stolen-vehicle suspect lead authorities from the San Fernando Valley all the way to John Wayne Airport in Orange County, reportedly reaching speeds up to 85 mph before the chase ended at Terminal C, where the driver was taken into custody.
