According to a release from the LA County Sheriff’s Department, deputies on patrol Thursday morning saw a woman driving a Ford Focus frantically trying to get their attention as she drove down a hill in La Crescenta. They raced to catch up to the car as it travelled southbound on Pennsylvania Ave. from Foothill Blvd. and gained speed.
Deputy Ruiz, who was driving a patrol car with his partner, Reserve Deputy Alfred Danelian:
activated his car’s red lights and siren, sped up, and eventually caught up to what he believed was a runaway vehicle.
The woman’s car continued to pick up speed as it raced through five different red traffic lights with four-way intersections, and many other cars crossing through the intersection in both directions. He raced ahead of the woman’s car as she continued to wave at him to get his attention and warn him that her car was out of control.
Deputy Ruiz positioned his patrol car in front of the Ford at over 50 miles per hour, then slowed down as fast as he safely could. Deputy Ruiz said that as he looked in his rear view mirror to continuously position his car correctly, he could “see the terror on her face.” He was soon able to bring both cars to a stop near Mills Avenue.
According to a release from the LA County Sheriff’s Department, deputies on patrol Thursday morning saw a woman driving a Ford Focus frantically trying to get their attention as she drove down a hill in La Crescenta. They raced to catch up to the car as it travelled southbound on Pennsylvania Ave. from Foothill Blvd. and gained speed.
Deputy Ruiz, who was driving a patrol car with his partner, Reserve Deputy Alfred Danelian:
activated his car’s red lights and siren, sped up, and eventually caught up to what he believed was a runaway vehicle.
The woman’s car continued to pick up speed as it raced through five different red traffic lights with four-way intersections, and many other cars crossing through the intersection in both directions. He raced ahead of the woman’s car as she continued to wave at him to get his attention and warn him that her car was out of control.
Deputy Ruiz positioned his patrol car in front of the Ford at over 50 miles per hour, then slowed down as fast as he safely could. Deputy Ruiz said that as he looked in his rear view mirror to continuously position his car correctly, he could “see the terror on her face.” He was soon able to bring both cars to a stop near Mills Avenue.