A woman driving a van and being chased by Los Angeles Police Department officers the wrong way on the northbound San Diego (405) Freeway Friday crashed into several vehicles and was taken into custody.
The chase began when officers were sent to Fourth and Rose avenues in the Venice area about 4:20 a.m. on a report of a disturbance, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
The suspect drove away in a van, reportedly striking an LAPD patrol car along the way and injuring two officers before heading to the freeway, KABC 7 reported.
Police tried to stop the van, at times using PIT maneuvers that damaged the vehicle, but the suspect turned in circles and kept going, driving the wrong way onto the northbound freeway lanes multiple times and speeding away at nearly 100 mph with smoke coming from under the hood.
The van then slammed directly into multiple cars and a big rig at a high speed and stopped near the Wilshire Boulevard exit. The woman got out of the van and climbed onto the hood of a stopped big rig, where she could be seen with blood on her face. Officers then took her into custody.
Los Angeles Fire Department personnel sent to the scene took one person to a hospital in unknown condition, the LAFD reported. The woman’s name was not immediately available.
Traffic lanes were blocked in the area, and the investigation was continuing after daybreak.