Two Stolen LAPD Cruisers, And One Pursuing Vehicle, Crash During Chase

Officers went on pursuit of two stolen LAPD cruisers Wednesday night, going on a chase that resulted in two of the stolen vehicles crashing, with a third officer-driven cruiser crashing as well, reports the L.A. Times.

Aareon Jefferson, a public information officer with the LAPD, told LAist that an audit had uncovered that two police cruisers were unaccounted for. A search for the vehicles ensued, and the stolen cruisers were both discovered at around 9:35 p.m. by the intersection of 61st Street and San Pedro in South L.A.

Jefferson told the Times that it was easy to identify the vehicles as stolen, as the drivers weren't wearing uniforms. “We don’t recognize them,” Jefferson said.

Two separate pursuits ensued. During the chase, one of the stolen vehicles crashed at the intersection of 77th Street and San Pedro. The other cruiser crashed as well, colliding at Adams Boulevard and Central Avenue. One of the pursuing officer's vehicles also crashed at Gage Avenue and Broadway.

Jefferson told LAist that three suspects were detained, and that they, as well as an innocent bystander, all reported minor injuries. The condition of the officer who crashed is unknown. City New Service reports that all suspects are in their late teens. The identities of the suspects have not yet been released.

It remains unclear how the vehicles were stolen. "The investigation will turn towards how did they gain access to the car and how can we make our cars more secure so that it doesn't happen again," an investigator told CBS 2.