In the annals of L.A. car chase lore, there were a few ways for drivers to escape a police pursuit, especially one being broadcast live.
A few escaped into parking lots and abandoned their cars. In one case this year, a carjacking suspect managed to flee with help from an accomplice.
But driving from Ventura County into Mexico with police on your tail? Well, it happened Monday.
A woman behind the wheel of a minivan fled from police across four counties, speeding across freeways and evading the California Highway Patrol until making it across the border into Mexico, officials said, where she seemingly escaped.
Attempts to stop the vehicle using spike strips failed as the minivan continued to speed south through Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties as police pursued for more than two hours.
The CHP took over the pursuit shortly before 11 a.m. after receiving reports of a stolen vehicle from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, said Sgt. Dan Keen.
The minivan was occupied by only the driver, Officer Michael Wessendorf said.
The minivan continued making its way south on the 405 freeway, reaching speeds of up to 80 mph. At one point broadcast live on local news, a CHP officer threw out a spike strip in the minivan’s path. The minivan swerved to avoid it and the chase continued. A second spike strip attempt also failed.
Before noon, the minivan made its way into Orange County and onto the 5 freeway in Mission Viejo. Sgt. Esteban Hernandez of the CHP said units notified U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the San Ysidro port of entry about the chase at 1:08 p.m., informing them the vehicle was nearing the border.
By 1:19, Hernandez said, CHP units were canceled during the pursuit on State Route 905 because of public safety concerns, a common occurrence in pursuits near the border to protect officers and drivers.
“We don’t want this car forcing its way through the entry, hurting other people,” Hernandez said.
By 1:24, CHP officers were notified that the minivan had made its way into Mexico, Hernandez said.
Officials at U.S. Customs and Border Protection did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
