A suspect crashed a car into a drainage channel in Highland Park Friday and the vehicle was then engulfed in flames in a fire that was possibly set intentionally.
Firefighters were called to a storm drain in the area of 291 Avenue 52, near the Arroyo Seco (110) Parkway, around 11 a.m., according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
The fire department reported that first-arriving crews handled the car fire, which caused smoke to emerge from nearby storm drains.
A California Highway Patrol officer told City News Service that Monrovia police were chasing a white Kia suspected of being stolen, but called off the chase.
The CHP was not involved in the pursuit and the officer said he could not confirm the car fire and chase were related.
At 11:25 a.m., the LAFD asked the CHP to shut down the on-ramp from Avenue 52 to the northbound 110.
It was not immediately clear if a suspect was taken into custody.
Los Angeles police said they had no indication the Monrovia police chase and the car fire were related and a message left with the Monrovia police watch commander was not immediately returned.