A high-speed chase that began on the eastbound 210 Freeway near Polk Street in Sylmar, around 1:45 p.m. on Wednesday, eventually ended tragically on the 5 Freeway. The suspect, a woman driving an allegedly stolen Honda CR-V, was pursued by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and later by the California Highway Patrol (CHP).
The driver was reported to have reached speeds in excess of 100 mph. She was spotted on the northbound 5 Freeway near Castaic by about 2:30 p.m., where the CHP took over pursuit from the LAPD. A number of perilous maneuvers were attempted by the suspect, including a feigned exit, which involved quickly rejoining the freeway before the trailing CHP officer could immitate.
The chase concluded around 3 p.m. when the woman attempted to exit the southbound 5 Freeway at high speed. It is suggested that she may have been ejected from the vehicle in the ensuing crash, a point later confirmed by the CHP; the woman did not survive. Describing the accident in a post event press conference, a CHP representative stated, Unfortunately, the vehicle was going too fast to negotiate the curve at the transition of the 5 South to the 138 and crashed.
No other injuries were reported in relation to this incident. The crash is currently under investigation by the CHP Central Division and CHPs Special Accident Unit.
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