A man who allegedly stole a police cruiser on Tuesday and jumped out of the vehicle during a high-speed pursuit with California Highway Patrol has died.
KABC reported that the cruiser was traveling at 45 mph when the suspect jumped out of the driver’s side door on Highway 138 near Lancaster. Video footage apparently shows the man, who has not been identified, striking his head or neck before lying lifeless on the road.
KTTV reported that the man jumped to his death after police used spike strips that flattened one of the stolen cruiser’s rear tires, causing him to lose control. After leaping out of the cruiser, the vehicle collided with a telephone pole.
MOMENTS AGO: A suspect with mental health issues stole a police cruiser outside Los Angeles and *jumped out* while he was being chased at 50mph.
Law enforcement began CPR on scene. pic.twitter.com/YxvDigOg4q
— Moshe Schwartz (@YWNReporter) March 28, 2023
Video footage also showed police dragging the suspect off the road and onto the grass, where they cuffed him. Police apparently dragged him out of the road amid concerns that the telephone pole may fall on him.
KTLA reported that the suspect stole the cruiser as California Highway Patrol responded to a crash on the 5 Freeway at Hasley Canyon. The suspect, who was one of the drivers involved in the crash, allegedly took the cruiser as an officer checked on the other parties.
The deceased man’s identity is being withheld pending notification of kin.
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[Featured image: Twitter video screengrabs]
