Wrong-Way Driver Arrested After Pursuit On 5 Freeway
NORWALK (CBSLA.com) — A man in his mid-20s was arrested Monday after leading authorities on a pursuit through Norwalk.
The chase began just after 8:30 a.m. on the northbound 5 Freeway at Rosecrans Avenue in Norwalk, the California Highway Patrol said.
The driver of a maroon Nissan Altima was reportedly driving erratically, yelling, making hand gestures and throwing things out of the vehicle prior to the beginning of the pursuit.
"We responded and found the vehicle stopped in lanes. We attempted to make contact, and the party accelerated and a pursuit ensued," Officer Raquel Stage said.
He led authorities along the freeway for several miles, and at times, slowly zig-zagged across the highway as officers followed.
The driver then changed direction in Commerce and began moving against traffic on the freeway before CHP patrol cars executed a precision immobilization technique (PIT) maneuver just before 9 a.m.
"We had to remove him from the vehicle. He was not complying," Stage said.
The suspect, who officers say appeared to be under the influence, suffered minor injuries from being pulled out of the driver's side window. He was arrested on scene.
The northbound 5 Freeway was closed at Atlantic while authorities investigated, but was later reopened.