Police chase ends in arrest

Woman drives stolen U-Haul truck through open-air market and rams an LAPD cruiser.

A woman driving a stolen U-Haul truck led police on a wild chase through downtown Los Angeles on Thursday and appeared to be singing or talking to herself as she swerved through traffic and ultimately plowed into vegetable crates and a police cruiser inside a pedestrian produce market.

The pursuit, which was broadcast live via helicopter, began just before 10 a.m. near 61st Street and Broadway in South L.A., police said.

For roughly 30 minutes, the driver threaded the boxlike truck through stoplights and heavy traffic, and clipped at least one vehicle as she gunned the truck into oncoming traffic at high speed.

She led Los Angeles police north into downtown’s Fashion District, where the truck barreled down narrow alleyways and barely missed hitting pedestrians and workers.

The driver then swerved into downtown’s massive open-air produce market at South Central Avenue and 7th Street. After slamming into crates of vegetables and causing workers and shoppers to back away, the driver appeared to have gotten trapped as police cruisers pulled up to box her in. But after making about a halfdozen moves, she turned the U-Haul around and headed out of the market.

On its way out, the UHaul rammed the front of a police SUV. An officer emerged and pointed his weapon at the cab of the truck. He fired, but missed hitting the driver, officials said.

The woman drove out of the market, only to return moments later. After crashing into more boxes of produce, she stopped, jumped out of the cab and ran, but was quickly apprehended by officers.

The driver, who still appeared to be shouting, resisted officers as they tried to place her in a cruiser. Video showed police putting a “spit sock” around her mouth and restraints on her hands and legs.

“She was not having a good day,” said Officer Drake Madison of the LAPD.