After California Car Chase, Driver Dives Into Ocean
Well, this might be the most “California” car chase I’ve ever seen. And it comes from “Surf City, USA.” A.K.A. Huntington Beach. (Although second place goes to Arnold Schwarzenegger driving his SUV over a Prius).
According to the HB PD, “Just before 10 p.m. last night, an officer attempted to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation and quickly learned the car was stolen.”
The driver considered stopping, but seemed to think better of it. “The driver briefly pulled over, then decided to test their luck instead, leading officers on a short pursuit through the numbered streets and onto PCH.”
A chase along the Pacific Coast Highway
The police decided not to let the suspects run wild on the Pacific Coast Highway. “With help from HB1, officers tracked the vehicle and deployed spike strips, successfully deflating the tires. When the vehicle slowed, an officer safely performed a PIT maneuver, ending the vehicle pursuit.”
That would have been a good time for the suspects to turn themselves in. But they decided to test their luck. Again.
“Both suspects bailed out. The passenger was quickly taken into custody, while the driver ran toward the beach and went straight into the ocean, apparently forgetting that the beach closes at 10 p.m.”
They soon realized that short of swimming all the way to Australia, escaping into the Pacific wasn’t a great strategy. “With assistance from HB1, officers converged, and the soggy suspect surrendered without incident.” The PD’s tagline: # ToProtectAndSurf.
