A stolen speeding pickup being chased by police Friday in downtown Los Angeles slammed into an SUV, sending it into a sunken vacant lot and injuring the driver.
The brief pursuit began near Fifth and Wall streets on Friday morning after officers saw the truck being driven recklessly, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
“Officers followed the truck and found that the truck had been reported stolen. A pursuit was initiated due to the driver failing to yield. Due to the reckless nature, the pursuit was terminated,” police said in a statement.
The driver left the downtown L.A. area and entered the Newton area, where he was involved in a crash at 7:25 a.m., police said. The pickup collided with an SUV at Washington Boulevard and Trinity Street, sending the other vehicle into a sunken vacant lot.
The SUV landed on its roof, and after several minutes, the woman inside was able to get out as officers reached the overturned vehicle.
She was treated at the scene by Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics and did not suffer any major injuries, police said.
The pickup driver was arrested at the scene and placed in the back of a police vehicle, where he was seen screaming and thrashing around, according to reports from the scene. He was later transferred to an ambulance.
Police said he was taken to a hospital with a complaint of injury. After treatment, he will be booked into the City Jail.