A man stole a California Highway Patrol cruiser on Tuesday and led officers on a chase that ended in the Lancaster area, authorities said, when he jumped from the speeding car and died.
Officers began chasing the suspect at about 11:44 a.m. in the area of the Golden State (5) Freeway and Hasley Canyon Road, according to the CHP. They said an officer was conducting a traffic investigation when the suspect jumped into the cruiser and fled, sparking the pursuit.
The officers chased the man north on the Golden State (5) Freeway to Highway 138, where he jumped from the cruiser after one of the rear tires went flat because of a spike strip. Media crews tracking the chase from above reported the patrol car was going roughly 70 mph when the man opened the driver’s side door and jumped.
The car then crashed into a power pole and came to rest in a grassy area next to the highway. An officer could be seen performing chest compressions on the suspect after the crash.
Paramedics were sent to the scene on Highway 138 near 90th Street West at about 12:30 p.m., and the man was taken to Antelope Valley Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, according to the CHP.
The suspect’s name was not immediately released, pending notification of relatives.
Â
Read the full article here
