A high-speed police chase came to an end when the driver of a suspected stolen Mercedes-Benz SUV struck a police cruiser in a quiet Burbank neighborhood.
Police made the arrest just before 6 p.m. after chasing a man from the Antelope Valley (14) Freeway in Santa Clarita to the Golden State (5) Freeway to side streets in Burbank. The chase began after a driver blew through a traffic stop and tried to run down a deputy, authorities said.
"I didn't even see a cop when he was speed, so it was kind of scary," said witness Alejandra Vargas. "Probably going easily 110 mph."
The high-speed pursuit continued along freeways and roads in the San Fernando Valley. It normally would have been rush hour with freeways packed, but during the coronavirus pandemic, few drivers were out.
It gave the driver of the white Mercedes-Benz SUV an opportunity to speed, weave and zig and zag.
At one point, the hatch of the SUV opened. Several boxes fell from the speeding SUV, which reached speeds around 110 mph on the freeway.
The man drove through a construction zone to get onto the Golden State Freeway, but then quickly got off the freeway and the chase ended in a crash.
Local
Get Los Angeles's latest local news on crime, entertainment, weather, schools, COVID, cost of living and more. Here's your go-to source for today's LA news.
The driver surrendered outside a house. He was identified by authorities as 29-year-old Justin Rousch,.
A woman who claimed to be his girlfriend was at the scene with a message of support.
"I love you! I'll bail you out," she yelled as he was escorted to a patrol car.
Details about what the boxes contained were not immediately available.
