A search was called off Wednesday afternoon for a driver after a freeway chase that turned into an off-road pursuit east of Los Angeles.
The driver, believed to be a burglary suspect, jumped from the Toyota sport utility vehicle after coming to a stop in a riverbed area next to a railroad track, according to the sheriff's department. The driver got out of the SUV in a cloud of dust before running down an embankment, climbing a fence and taking cover in thick brush.
Deputies searched for hours for the driver near the San Gabriel River in Santa Fe Springs in southeastern Los Angeles County.
Deputies worked with Los Angeles Department of Water and Power personnel to determine whether the man might have entered a network of tunnels near the river. Neighbors expressed concerns that the man might come up through a manhole cover, said Sgt. Andrew Serrano.
"He could come into one of the houses," said a neighbor, Manual Gonzalez. "I've got a lot of kids right here. They're probably freaking out right now walking home from school wondering what's all the cops doing."
Authorities said they believe the manhole covers were bolted down, Serrano said.
At midday, the pursuit was on the 210 Freeway in the Glendora area before the driver transitioned to the southbound 605 Freeway. The driver of the silver SUV had been on several other San Gabriel Valley freeways after the pursuit started in the Diamond Bar area.
Speeds ranged from 65 mph to 90 mph.
