A terrifying moment police car thief jumps out of the driver’s seat of a speed cruiser, then dies after smashing his head and neck on the road.
- It is believed that the suspect stole a California Highway Patrol vehicle after crashing into it
- The high-speed chase in Santa Clarita, California reached speeds of up to 100 mph as the suspect brandished weapons.
- The suspect, who was said to have mental health issues, eventually jumped out of the car in the middle of Interstate 138
A high-speed chase in California ended in tragedy on Tuesday when a man who stole a California Highway Patrol cruiser jumped from the car to his death in the middle of the road.
The suspect, who was reported to have mental health issues, stole the car after crashing it in the Santa Clarita area.
During the chase, the suspect pulled out a rifle and assault rifle, although news reports indicate that the weapons inside the vehicle were safe.
Ultimately, the chase ended on Highway 138, when the suspect jumped from the moving vehicle as it was traveling at 45 mph.
The collision caused the unnamed suspect to hit his head on the highway and left him unconscious in the middle of the road.
The suspect is sighted jumping out of the stolen CHP car
The car, which was traveling at about 45 mph, hit a lamppost
Law enforcement officers arrived at the scene immediately to provide assistance to the suspect
The officers immediately sought medical attention, and began performing CPR.
In the end, the suspect’s body was moved to the side of the road awaiting transportation.
Despite the efforts of the first responders, the suspect did not survive the incident and was later pronounced dead at the nearby Antelope Valley Hospital, according to a CHP spokesperson.
“The CHP personnel on the scene performed life-saving procedures and the driver was taken to Antelope Valley Hospital, where he was pronounced dead,” said CHP officer Alec Pereda.
After the suspect jumped out of the moving vehicle, he continued walking a few dozen feet before veering off the road and crashing into a light pole.
The accident started during a road collision. When a CHP official responded to the scene, the suspect somehow managed to jump into a running Dodge Charger cruiser and drive off with it.
The officer had left his car for a moment to check on one of the victims of the first crash, when the suspect jumped into his car and took off.
He fled north on Interstate 5, at some points during the chase, reaching speeds of 100 mph, before turning onto eastbound 138.