Man Steals Police Vehicle, Dies After Jumping Onto Highway During High-Speed Chase

A man stole a California Highway Patrol cruiser and led officers on a high-speed chase before jumping out of the moving vehicle and suffering serious injuries.

The man was rushed to the hospital and he died hours later.

Police started tailing the man after they received reports about a reckless driver in the Newhall area at around 11:40 a.m. Tuesday, according to ABC 7 Chicago.

Responding officers located the man driving a Toyota Corolla on the northbound I-5 Freeway at Hasley Canyon Road. After crashing his car, the reckless driver stole the CHP cruiser and fled the scene, kicking off a high-speed chase with the police.

The suspect even brandished a shotgun and an assault rifle during the pursuit. He drove north on the 5 Freeway at speeds close to 100 mph before and eventually made his way to the eastbound 138.

At some point, a spike strip caused one of the cruiser’s tires to go flat, according to CBS News.

The driver jumped out of the moving vehicle while the cruiser was still moving at a speed of 70 mph.

Footage shared online captured the suspect leaping from the car before falling and striking his head on the asphalt ground. The man slid a few feet down the 138 Freeway while the cruiser collided with power poles on the side of the road and stopped a short distance away from the man.

The injured driver was given medical attention and transported to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead later. His identity was not immediately released.

The suspect reportedly had mental health issues, and it is currently unclear how he managed to take off in the police cruiser.

It is standard procedure for officers to lock their cars while they are still running, a CHP spokesperson said.

“I do not know what happened in this circumstance, but it is standard procedure,” said Officer Alec Pereyda.

The cruiser contained firearms, and officers were worried whether the suspect would be able to get his hands on them during the pursuit. However, Pereyda said the man could not access them.

“Luckily, they did not become unlocked in the patrol vehicle, and he was not able to gain access to those,” Pereyda added.