A driver and at least two passengers were pulled from a white BMW after a dangerous chase that climbed past 100 mph ended along Pacific Coast Highway Thursday night.
Police tried to stop the white four-door seven series BMW about 8:30 p.m. along the 5 Freeway near the Indiana Street exit, just east of downtown Los Angeles, according to the California Highway Patrol. The driver was wanted for allegedly speeding and weaving in and out of lanes.
Reaching speeds up to 120 mph, the chase barrelled over at least two Los Angeles freeways until the driver reached Pacific Coast Highway.
As the driver -- an 18-year-old UC Irvine student from China, pictured below -- moved north along the iconic coastal roadway, the pursuit's speed dropped markedly, at times dipping as low as 40 mph.
When the roadway opened up, an officer attempted to perform a PIT manuever on the BMW by tapping its back bumper. The sedan did not spin out, but rather swerved slightly before the driver pulled over to the shoulder and surrendered.
The chase ended about 9:15 p.m. along Pacific Coast Highway near Lunita Road.
Several CHP officers drew their guns and surrounded the BMW. Two officers approached the driver's side and dragged out a man from behind the wheel, threw him to the ground and handcuffed him.
Police Chases
Video from Southern California's police pursuits and follow-ups on what happened after the chase
At least two other passengers were removed from the BMW, handcuffed and put into squad cars.
From the back seat of a squad car and speaking in Chinese to an NBC4 photographer, the driver said the BMW is a new car and he obtained his driver's license about two months ago.
He said he was afraid of the CHP and did not understand why he was being chased.
Officials said because the student obeyed most of the traffic lights during the high-speed chase, he may not be facing as many charges as he would had he blown through lights and disobeyed traffic laws.
