LINCOLN HEIGHTS, Calif. (KTLA) — Traffic was stopped for hours on northbound 5 Freeway in Lincoln Heights Friday morning after a pursuit of three robbery suspects ended in a deadly crash.
It all began with a robbery at a 7-Eleven store located at 4th and Cummings in Boyle Heights, according to the LAPD.
A high-speed police pursuit ensued with the three suspects in a burgundy SUV.
Officers lost sight of the suspect vehicle, but it was picked up by an LAPD airship minutes later.
The pursuit came to an end when the SUV crashed on the northbound 5 Freeway at Broadway, just south of the 110 Freeway.
“It was traveling so fast that it lost control by itself. It cut across lanes one through four, where it collided with a bridge support underpass,” said LAPD Sgt. Rudy Lopez.
The SUV flipped over multiple times, and all three suspects were trapped inside the vehicle.
One of the suspects was ultimately pronounced dead at the scene. The two other suspects were rushed to the hospital.
Police found dollar bills as well as coin wrappers scattered around the wrecked vehicle.
It wasn’t immediately known how much money was stolen. Police said a knife was used in the robbery, but that no one was hurt.
The northbound 5 was closed for hours for the homicide investigation, backing up traffic for miles during the morning commute.
It was finally re-opened shortly before 8 a.m., but traffic was slow-going. As an alternate to the 5, you can take the 101 Freeway.
49 Comments to “Pursuit Ends in Deadly Crash on 5 Freeway”
February 1, 2013 at 4:41 AM
I was right there 100 yards from the crash after emergency crews had arrived waiting in traffic for two hours. It was an absolute mess. Multiple cars were wrecked. I hope no one else was injured.
February 1, 2013 at 5:16 AM
Look at that, one less criminal we have to support.
February 1, 2013 at 3:20 PM
One less, but then 2 more to support. They're getting better medical right now that you would if you were rear ended.
February 1, 2013 at 5:34 AM
I uploaded a video on Youtube of the aftermath, (5 freeway crash). Uploading right now. Shows good footage of the immediate aftermath and rescue.
Heres the link.
http://youtu.be/1CpKcwJuSmk
February 1, 2013 at 7:03 AM
Laws, Great video. I saw how they brought in a big rig type Crain to lift the SUV to get those thugs out. That must cost thousands and thousands of dollars to rescue thugs. They should have just hooked a chain to the bumper, and drag the SUV to the next off ramp with them (Criminals) still in the SUV. Why waste the money? We all know when they get prosecuted, they are all going to plead NOT GUILTY. And their Mama's will be there and say " My Sun is a goods boy, Hiz nots a bad boyz! Itz nots fare!!!
February 1, 2013 at 10:55 AM
Should have just put it on a flat bed and then off to the car crusher
February 1, 2013 at 12:04 PM
Couldn't agree more
February 1, 2013 at 8:18 AM
Perfect! For one, if a Ford flips over, done for. Look it up, even on a F350, the A-pilars cannot sustain any measure of force unlike a GM, RAM, or Tundra. Fords will crush. Two; love the fact the suspects were in a Ford, one trash down, unfortunate the other two lived. They should all perish like this.
February 3, 2013 at 3:18 AM
Wtf u should die u didnt even know them to begin with and they wernt criminals
February 1, 2013 at 8:18 AM
AWESOME!!! I LOVE IT WHEN EVIL DEMONS DIE IN AGONY!!!!
February 3, 2013 at 3:19 AM
Yea and your gonna be the next one….cuz the one that died isnt a demon like u he never wished nobodys death
February 1, 2013 at 9:21 AM
A high speed police chase, endangering everyone in it's path, use of an airship and rescue teams that must have cost a fortune of tax payer money, and you're happy because justice is served when someone's son is killed over a petty crime? Wake up morons.
February 1, 2013 at 10:06 AM
How about you saving your sympathy for the actual VICTIM of the intial crime. These losers chose to terrorize an innocent person who was just trying to do their job. The outcome was the result of their own actions.
February 1, 2013 at 10:11 AM
Petty Crime? Do you think this was the first time they have ever done something like this? I guarantee you that the one criminal, or probably ex Con's that got killed, their parents will sue the Ford Motor Company for the poor design on the way it was not able to prevent the roof from crushing their heads and snapping their necks like when you break a carrot in half. Even the other 2 criminals family's will follow suit. All for the money. If they cared about them, they would have had brought them up more decent.
February 1, 2013 at 12:18 PM
How can you guarantee that they were hardened criminals who deserved to die? What about innocent citizens driving home from work who were put in harms way as a direct result of this high speed pursuit? There were lives put at risk and one lost, over a few dollars and a victimless crime (the store attendant wasn't hurt!) Lock everyone up and make a profit off of it and if people die in that pursuit then so be it? Ridiculous. Free the people, fund education. It's that simple but not as profitable.
February 1, 2013 at 5:33 PM
I agre, the public should not be put in danger from a police pursuit. The police should just allowed to open fire rather than chasing. Five seconds to show you are moving over and then start blasting. A few dozen shotgun rounds and the public are no longer in danger.
February 5, 2013 at 1:54 PM
so let's not pursue armed robberies? I bet the poor clerk who was robbed doesn't believe this was a "victimless crime" a lot of small theft robberies end with a poor clerk dead so I imagine this has left him/her with psychological issues. The ignorant felons decided to run they alone put others in danger and cost a life because of it. I imagine if you were held up you would be singing a much different tune.
February 1, 2013 at 11:33 AM
Without further explanation , it's quite clear who is the moron in this exchange
February 1, 2013 at 12:04 PM
Agreed
February 3, 2013 at 3:21 AM
So your the only person with feelings:) the guy that died was my cuzin he was 18 but he was just driving he didnt steel anything
February 1, 2013 at 9:28 AM
BPO
February 1, 2013 at 9:31 AM
For less then a hundred dollars, real smart ones there
February 1, 2013 at 11:28 AM
I'm also an idiot
February 1, 2013 at 8:36 PM
Congrats, you mother/sister is probably real proud of you
February 1, 2013 at 10:05 AM
If only the driver had a license maybe he would have crash.
February 1, 2013 at 10:17 AM
I can here their momma's saying now, "Oh, they good boys, they never do no wrong. They were just scared when the police chased them"!
February 1, 2013 at 10:17 AM
Sorry, spelling error there…HEAR not here..LOL
February 1, 2013 at 10:22 AM
I live close to that 7eleven and my brother works there I'm so happy he decide not to work the night shift. When he told me that they where robbed I told him they need to place a built proof window between the cashier and the customer just like they had when that 7eleven was a subway and food mart. I don't remember it ever getting robbed.
February 1, 2013 at 10:33 AM
I live close to that 7eleven and my brother works there I'm so happy he decide not to work the night shift. When he told me that they where robbed I told him they need to place a built proof window between the cashier and the customer just like they had when that 7eleven was a subway and food mart. I don't remember it ever getting robbed.
February 1, 2013 at 11:01 AM
My brother works at 7Eleven, too.
Funny, but ever since he made that big sign that says "Free Donuts to Cops after Midnight" he always seems to have a patrol car sitting outside. No cops, just off-duty cars.
They haven't had a robbery in 3 three years.
Sometimes you just have to be smarter than the Urban Gorillas.
February 1, 2013 at 12:08 PM
I like 7-11's. I'm sorry they get targeted for robbery. I'm glad there are those that are safe & that LEO's are there to prevent such robberies as well.
February 1, 2013 at 10:50 AM
Must've been hell being beaten to death by the rolls of stolen coins.
How I do love instant karma…
February 1, 2013 at 11:31 AM
Okay Tony
February 3, 2013 at 3:11 AM
Wow what if that was your brother or cousin how would u fell??? Now karmas going back to you for being happy for somones death my cousin made that one mistake but he did not deserve to die
February 1, 2013 at 10:54 AM
Urban gorillas.
Everywhere you look.
Every damned day.
Crappy behavior.
And until we start building guillotines in the town squares and lopping off gorilla heads . . .
They'll just keep right on pooping on the societal carpet.
February 1, 2013 at 11:04 AM
That is a great ending, one of the bad guys dead. Good riddance.
February 3, 2013 at 3:24 AM
You did not know them so stfu
February 1, 2013 at 12:24 PM
excuse me?
February 1, 2013 at 2:00 PM
Excuse me What? Do you have a problem with my comment? You must be a Ni&&er with those words. Um Hum!!!!
February 1, 2013 at 5:36 PM
I think Laura must have burped. No other reason for her comment.
February 1, 2013 at 12:26 PM
Good thing I am not a cop or first responder because I would take my sweet time trying to rescue these thugs. Thanks loser criminals for jamming up the freeway because of your lifestyle. Too bad karma didn't take all three of you. Your mommas must be proud. Thankfully no innocent people were killed or injured because of these criminal thugs.
February 1, 2013 at 4:56 PM
til I looked at the paycheck that said $8239, I did not believe that…my… cousin woz like they say truly bringing home money parttime at their laptop.. there sisters roommate haz done this 4 only about 6 months and as of now paid for the dept on their cottage and bought themselves a Chevrolet Corvette. go to, http://xurl.es/sd9eo
February 1, 2013 at 5:43 PM
From reading your comment, you must have learned how to make that kind of money with a laptop by beating people over the head with it before you rip them off. Mugged by a laptop…..
February 2, 2013 at 1:46 AM
Oh Heck ya!!
February 1, 2013 at 5:53 PM
I hope the other two die too. F*ING CRIMINALS.
February 3, 2013 at 3:26 AM
You didnt know them so stop saying they are criminals so thats not true wow u just wished for two more deaths….this was my cousin n the only mistake made was to drive the car
February 1, 2013 at 8:37 PM
bet, they try a sue FORD
February 2, 2013 at 1:47 AM
Don't run from cops this won't happen. Seems simple enough.
February 3, 2013 at 9:44 AM
Anonymous said:
"Good thing I am not a cop or first responder because I would take my sweet time trying to rescue these thugs."
Hey, Anon:
The typical person reading these articles day after day has absolutely no idea how hard it is to save the lives of these street-freaks when they get hurt.
We Medics absolutely hate it.