A man who attempted to steal a police cruiser was killed when he crashed the vehicle after struggling with an officer who stopped to provide help on a freeway northeast of downtown Los Angeles.
The South Pasadena officer stopped near the eastbound 10 Freeway transition to the 110 Freeway after a report of a motorcycle crash. Earlier Thursday, a private bus driver noticed the motorcycle on the ground and stopped to move it to the side of the road.
When the got out to look for the motorcyclist, a man got into his police cruiser, according to authorities.
"The officer entered the passenger side to attempt to stop the suspect," Sgt. Spencer Louie said. "They struggled for a bit. As he got the vehicle into drive, the officer backed off to avoid getting run over."
The officer suffered a minor ankle injury.
"These types of things, when you see them in movies or TV shows, you think it can't possibly happen," said South Pasadena Police Chief Arthur Miller. "But when you involve human nature, anything is possible."
The officer and bus driver tried to follow the thief, but lost sight of the patrol car. Later Thursday, an LAPD officer noticed the wreckage of the patrol car concealed among tress off the side of the freeway.
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The carjacker crashed into one of the trees and died at the scene, police said.
The patrol car was destroyed.
It was not immediately clear whether the carjacker was the same individual who crashed the motorcycle.
The 110 Freeway transition to the 101 Freeway was closed early Thursday for the investigation.
