Staff Reporter
A police pursuit involving a carjacking suspect who allegedly stole a vehicle with three young children inside ended in a violent crash on the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) near Malibu on Friday evening.
Authorities say the collision sent three children — all believed to be under 10 years old — and two adults to the hospital.
The chase began shortly before 7 p.m. in East Los Angeles when the vehicle was reported stolen. The suspect drove across the city to Santa Monica before entering the PCH, leading California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers on a dangerous pursuit.
Story Highlights
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Incident: Carjacking suspect stole vehicle with 3 children inside.
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Location: Pacific Coast Highway near Malibu, California.
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Time: Friday evening, around 7 p.m.
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Victims: Three children and two adults hospitalized.
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Chase Details: Started in East Los Angeles, ended near Kanan Dume Road.
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Crash: Multi-vehicle collision after suspect ran red light.
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Aftermath: Suspect fled on foot but was captured by deputies.
Chase Turns Dangerous After Spike Strip Deployment
CHP ruled out a PIT maneuver due to the presence of children. Instead, Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies deployed a spike strip, which the suspect hit. Before that, the chase remained relatively slow, but the suspect accelerated and began driving erratically after the spike strip deployment.
AIR7 footage captured the moment the suspect violently crashed into another vehicle on PCH. At approximately 7:35 p.m., the pursuit ended in a major crash near Kanan Dume Road when the suspect ran a red light and collided with a driver making a left turn onto PCH. The impact sparked a multi-vehicle collision.
Witnesses Describe Terrifying Scene
Erica Trujillo, whose vehicle was damaged in the crash, described the terrifying moment:
“And then I saw both cars coming to me and crashing into me,” Trujillo said. She and her sister were stopped at a traffic light when the chase reached their location. Fortunately, neither was injured, though the front of Trujillo’s SUV sustained significant damage.
She added, “I braced for impact, and my sister was in the car behind me. I was just hoping they didn’t push me far back enough to hit her car.”
Children Rescued, Victims Hospitalized
Officers pulled two older children and a small child in a car seat from the stolen vehicle. All appeared conscious and breathing before being transported to the hospital. Witnesses reported that the vehicle struck by the suspect was driven by an older woman with a passenger; both were hospitalized. Their conditions, along with those of the children, were not immediately available.
Suspect Attempts Escape, Tries Another Carjacking
After the crash, the suspect fled on foot, running up an embankment, through wooded terrain, and over a barbed-wire fence. During the escape, the suspect allegedly attempted to carjack another vehicle.
“The guy came out of nowhere, opened my car door, and that’s when I hit the gas,” said Justin Leitstein.
Deputies captured the shirtless and shoeless suspect in a Malibu neighborhood by 7:50 p.m.
The Pacific Coast Highway chase underscores the dangers of high-speed pursuits, especially when innocent children are involved. Authorities prioritized the children’s safety throughout the incident, avoiding aggressive tactics like PIT maneuvers. Despite the violent crash and attempted escape, the suspect was taken into custody without further harm. Investigators are now focused on the conditions of the victims and determining what led to this reckless act.
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