NewsLocal News

Actions

Video shows California Highway Patrol officers pull pursuit suspect from burning car following crash

Posted at 7:43 AM, Feb 20, 2021
and last updated 2021-02-20 15:49:26-05

OCEANSIDE, Calif. (KGTV) -- Dramatic video shows California Highway Patrol officers pulling a pursuit suspect out of a burning car early Saturday morning.

According to Sgt. Eric Nicholas, the pursuit started in Irvine just after 2:30 a.m.

Nicholas says the high-speed chase reached speeds of up to 125 miles per hour.

As the suspect fled south, Oceanside CHP officers deployed spike strips, deflating several of the car’s tires.

Nichols says the driver lost control several miles later, driving down an embankment on I-5 south near the Santa Margarita River.

Video shows the car bursting into flames shortly after the crash as officers pulled the man from the vehicle.

“Had they not pulled him to safety, he undoubtedly would have perished in the vehicle,” Nicholas said.