One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Deputy Halts Runaway Car After It Plows Through Five Red Lights
A deputy managed to stop a runaway car hurtling through La Crescenta at 50 mph. The only damage was a scratch on the patrol car's bumper.
The woman driving the runaway car made a panicked signal as she was heading south on Foothill Boulevard and turning onto Pennsylvania Avenue. By that time, the Ford Focus she was driving had already plowed through five red lights around 11:20 a.m. yesterday, according to La Canada Flintridge Patch.
Sheriff's Deputy Marcelo Ruiz pulled in front of the woman's car and slowly brought it to a halt around Mills Avenue.
"She is really lucky. She wouldn't have been able to make that turn at Honolulu," sheriff's Sgt. Debra Herman told the Pasadena Star-News. Honolulu Avenue has metal traffic barriers and a sharp curve.
Everyone walked away unscathed, except for the scratch on the patrol car's bumper.
Deputies later discovered the car's reservoir of blake fluid was empty.